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Xianqui
Year: 2019. The world is falling apart.
The temperamental President of the United States of America, facing a tough re-election and playing to populist voter sentiment, has imposed trade sanctions on a belligerent China. Meanwhile, Chinese citizens, reeling from a disastrous economic meltdown, have taken to the streets in revolt.
Staring at the bleak prospect of being ousted from power after 60 years of iron rule in the wake of threats both external and internal, the leaders of the Communist Party in China initiate military action, drawing its rival superpowers Japan and the United States into a conflict that portends an all-out nuclear war. As nations across the globe switch to emergency mode, Japanese intelligence reveals that China's aggression could have been fuelled by a singular circumstance: the development of a vaccine based on ancient tribal knowledge that could tilt military balance in its favour.
But what is this secret weapon China possesses and how can it be stopped? The fate of the world now rests on the success of a quest undertaken by an eclectic team - a Japanese policewoman, an Indian ethnologist and a young Indian mountain guide, assisted in part by a devious Russian geologist - to unravel the only clue they have at hand, buried in a fable from a time long past, when the magic of the shamans guided the rulers of Tibet.
Will they succeed? Or will the Chinese foil their attempts and trigger the ultimate, apocalyptic war?
The temperamental President of the United States of America, facing a tough re-election and playing to populist voter sentiment, has imposed trade sanctions on a belligerent China. Meanwhile, Chinese citizens, reeling from a disastrous economic meltdown, have taken to the streets in revolt.
Staring at the bleak prospect of being ousted from power after 60 years of iron rule in the wake of threats both external and internal, the leaders of the Communist Party in China initiate military action, drawing its rival superpowers Japan and the United States into a conflict that portends an all-out nuclear war. As nations across the globe switch to emergency mode, Japanese intelligence reveals that China's aggression could have been fuelled by a singular circumstance: the development of a vaccine based on ancient tribal knowledge that could tilt military balance in its favour.
But what is this secret weapon China possesses and how can it be stopped? The fate of the world now rests on the success of a quest undertaken by an eclectic team - a Japanese policewoman, an Indian ethnologist and a young Indian mountain guide, assisted in part by a devious Russian geologist - to unravel the only clue they have at hand, buried in a fable from a time long past, when the magic of the shamans guided the rulers of Tibet.
Will they succeed? Or will the Chinese foil their attempts and trigger the ultimate, apocalyptic war?
- GenresIndian Literature
416 pages, Paperback
Published October 6, 2020
2 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Raghu Srinivasan
5 books7 followersRaghu Srinivasan is a serving officer in the Indian Army. His tenures have seen him patrol leech-infested tropical jungles, stare across the expanse of the African savannah and spot snow leopards in the Karakoram ranges.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 14 reviews
October 22, 2020
A war - espionage book that will keep you turning the pages. Xianqui highlights political strategization of unimaginable agenda. I was certainly intrigued when I read the blurb as it promised boldest thriller and honestly the author delivered the same with adrenaline rushed race against time thriller. Coming to the characters I would say that the team assigned to bring down the whole operation was not only diverse with contrasting personalities but were also interesting to read.
Xianqui was definitely a visually stimulating thriller that surpassed all my expectations. A fast-paced narration as the reader experiences the brilliant execution of the plot. This is what is expected from an acclaimed author who can make the readers live in the story by marvelously weaving a dangerous and dreadful time sensitive mission.
Xianqui was definitely a visually stimulating thriller that surpassed all my expectations. A fast-paced narration as the reader experiences the brilliant execution of the plot. This is what is expected from an acclaimed author who can make the readers live in the story by marvelously weaving a dangerous and dreadful time sensitive mission.
February 1, 2021
Book Title: Xianqui
Author: Raghu Srinivasan
Format: Kindle
My Thoughts:
A page-turner is an inappropriate word to describe the excitement a reader gets once completing the book. This thriller opens with a bang of current time span and oscillates with historical references. The story takes a world tour to many countries where the readers meet new characters. The story is inherently crafted with military action sequences and thrilling spy adventures. The unbiased portrayal of women in uniform stands as one of the highlights. There is science, there is action, there is evilness, there is adult material involved, there is emotion and there is a duty! With many sub-plots that happen in many terrains of the land, this book by Raghu Srinivasan happens to be the second book and is a great treat to the readers who love, action and fast thrillers.
What to expect from the story?
Expect a spy thriller set in many countries.
Expect an action-packed espionage story.
Expect an interesting undercover operation story that deals with cross border politics, bio-wars and terrain fights.
Expect a story that refers to ancient and forgotten history and heritage in every land the story travels to.
Who can read?
The book is recommended for adults as there are certain matured elements. The young readers who are comfortable to read the erotic spy type adventure stories can also pick up the book.
How good are the characters?
For any story to please and attract the readers, the story's characters are probably the most important part. In this book, without a regular structure of a central character and many characters attached to it, there is a great character introduced at every part of the book, which is one of the exciting things in this book. As the story takes off on an exciting gradient of the plot, the characters take the story forward. With excellent and strong characterization, every character within the limits of narration and plot has created an impact in this book. Though there is a length introduction found for every character, it all got sufficed when the character's scope appended it to the thrill element in the story. The character of Anjali Roy and Bratva excited me the most.
How good is the narration?
Xianqui is a book whose plot is more important and exciting than the narration. As the plot is somewhat tight-knit, the wonderful stream of characters that are not too easy and not to complex with powerful and racy narration with so much mystery - this book is weighed more on the characters than the narration. But all said and done; the plot is narrated aligning with the plot's complexity, there are no dull or over-burdened moments in the story. In this 410 and odd pages book, there is so much to be excited.
How good are the language and grammar?
Xianqui by Raghu Srinivasan is written in a colloquial yet interesting language. The spy sequences and the historical references used in the story are written in an alluring language. The names of the places mentioned in the story or the character names related to the place where the story is moving and happening are interesting. Apart from the language, the grammatical elements used in the story are rich and error-free.
How good is the Author's writing style?
Adhering to what the blurb says, this book Xianqui is an intriguing mystery thriller set-up in India and is threaded to other countries like China, Tokyo, East Africa, Tibet, etc. The Author well balances the story's set-up and the characters. Written in easily accessible and understandable language, Author Raghu Srinivasan has a woven great story with his excellent Army background. As the story progresses, the introduction of new characters and their involvement in the story has a great and positive impact on the story. The way things change, mysteries and secrets are revealed makes the book an interesting one. It is indeed a perfect movie story, and I hope the Author one day considers it.
How entertaining is the book?
Now that the US presidential election 2020 and the Capitol Hill's recent events have a great reference when reading this book. Also, the mere diplomatic fight against China's country is definitely an engaging read. There is a mystery, it is a thriller, there is espionage, and there is an emotion.
Final Verdict
Gear-up your sleeves to read the most exciting Geo-Political thriller from an Indian Author!
Rating:
4/5
Author: Raghu Srinivasan
Format: Kindle
My Thoughts:
A page-turner is an inappropriate word to describe the excitement a reader gets once completing the book. This thriller opens with a bang of current time span and oscillates with historical references. The story takes a world tour to many countries where the readers meet new characters. The story is inherently crafted with military action sequences and thrilling spy adventures. The unbiased portrayal of women in uniform stands as one of the highlights. There is science, there is action, there is evilness, there is adult material involved, there is emotion and there is a duty! With many sub-plots that happen in many terrains of the land, this book by Raghu Srinivasan happens to be the second book and is a great treat to the readers who love, action and fast thrillers.
What to expect from the story?
Expect a spy thriller set in many countries.
Expect an action-packed espionage story.
Expect an interesting undercover operation story that deals with cross border politics, bio-wars and terrain fights.
Expect a story that refers to ancient and forgotten history and heritage in every land the story travels to.
Who can read?
The book is recommended for adults as there are certain matured elements. The young readers who are comfortable to read the erotic spy type adventure stories can also pick up the book.
How good are the characters?
For any story to please and attract the readers, the story's characters are probably the most important part. In this book, without a regular structure of a central character and many characters attached to it, there is a great character introduced at every part of the book, which is one of the exciting things in this book. As the story takes off on an exciting gradient of the plot, the characters take the story forward. With excellent and strong characterization, every character within the limits of narration and plot has created an impact in this book. Though there is a length introduction found for every character, it all got sufficed when the character's scope appended it to the thrill element in the story. The character of Anjali Roy and Bratva excited me the most.
How good is the narration?
Xianqui is a book whose plot is more important and exciting than the narration. As the plot is somewhat tight-knit, the wonderful stream of characters that are not too easy and not to complex with powerful and racy narration with so much mystery - this book is weighed more on the characters than the narration. But all said and done; the plot is narrated aligning with the plot's complexity, there are no dull or over-burdened moments in the story. In this 410 and odd pages book, there is so much to be excited.
How good are the language and grammar?
Xianqui by Raghu Srinivasan is written in a colloquial yet interesting language. The spy sequences and the historical references used in the story are written in an alluring language. The names of the places mentioned in the story or the character names related to the place where the story is moving and happening are interesting. Apart from the language, the grammatical elements used in the story are rich and error-free.
How good is the Author's writing style?
Adhering to what the blurb says, this book Xianqui is an intriguing mystery thriller set-up in India and is threaded to other countries like China, Tokyo, East Africa, Tibet, etc. The Author well balances the story's set-up and the characters. Written in easily accessible and understandable language, Author Raghu Srinivasan has a woven great story with his excellent Army background. As the story progresses, the introduction of new characters and their involvement in the story has a great and positive impact on the story. The way things change, mysteries and secrets are revealed makes the book an interesting one. It is indeed a perfect movie story, and I hope the Author one day considers it.
How entertaining is the book?
Now that the US presidential election 2020 and the Capitol Hill's recent events have a great reference when reading this book. Also, the mere diplomatic fight against China's country is definitely an engaging read. There is a mystery, it is a thriller, there is espionage, and there is an emotion.
Final Verdict
Gear-up your sleeves to read the most exciting Geo-Political thriller from an Indian Author!
Rating:
4/5
November 7, 2020
Living up to it's title, 'XIANQUI' is a masterful tale of moves and counter moves where the Chessboard is the world and the prize...global domination .
From the arid wastes of the Taklamakan Desert to the mountainous regions of the Indian border states , the seemingly serene Imperial Palace in Tokyo and the equally sinister power centers in Beijing the story canters at a brisk yet 'collected ' pace of an exiting and enjoyable fox hunt. Twists and tumbles take the reader to the sweltering coast of East Africa and the Marshall Islands, where the crazy team of eclectic adventurers survive through nimble tactical moves all the while searching for answers to parry a strategic masterstroke.
The final 'coup de grace' in true Mac Arthur style is delivered on board a warship where determined conversation booms louder than naval guns.
The author's choice of vocabulary is only matched by his vivid imagination...keeping in mind the fleeting attention span of a generation brought up on a belief of instant gratification. XIANQUI is to be savored and enjoyed by those who crave and covet a tale of Machevellian intrigue ...crafted by a writer of rare depth. One who is capable of drawing on the mysteries of an ancient past and presenting to a 21st century audience as a tale...well told!
From the arid wastes of the Taklamakan Desert to the mountainous regions of the Indian border states , the seemingly serene Imperial Palace in Tokyo and the equally sinister power centers in Beijing the story canters at a brisk yet 'collected ' pace of an exiting and enjoyable fox hunt. Twists and tumbles take the reader to the sweltering coast of East Africa and the Marshall Islands, where the crazy team of eclectic adventurers survive through nimble tactical moves all the while searching for answers to parry a strategic masterstroke.
The final 'coup de grace' in true Mac Arthur style is delivered on board a warship where determined conversation booms louder than naval guns.
The author's choice of vocabulary is only matched by his vivid imagination...keeping in mind the fleeting attention span of a generation brought up on a belief of instant gratification. XIANQUI is to be savored and enjoyed by those who crave and covet a tale of Machevellian intrigue ...crafted by a writer of rare depth. One who is capable of drawing on the mysteries of an ancient past and presenting to a 21st century audience as a tale...well told!
January 9, 2021
Xianqui is a riveting and exhilarating Geo Political thriller, which fulfills all your adrenaline packed dreams for a book !
In the author's own words, a great best-seller gets written with commitment, self belief, pain, discipline and boy does this book exemplify that. The impeccable research, presentation of facts (makes you yearn to know more and more about them) and the setting of plot (great timing with the current global political situation with the onset of Corona Virus) makes you believe in the realism of the events/story blind folded, which is what a great book should do according to the legendary, Roald Dahl.
Xianqui takes you on a diverse journey from India, Tibet, Tanzania, China, Japan, USA to Papua New Guinea, spread over different times with equally varied characters, but never once losing either the cohesiveness or the coherence in the story.
It treats you to geo politics, suspense, adventures, technology, science, mythology, ancient fables, history, intelligence agencies, undercover agents - a dream come true for a thrill seeking reader.
You'd neither want to put the book down nor want it to end. Someone please make a movie out of it already ! If you still can't tell, it's a must, must read !
In the author's own words, a great best-seller gets written with commitment, self belief, pain, discipline and boy does this book exemplify that. The impeccable research, presentation of facts (makes you yearn to know more and more about them) and the setting of plot (great timing with the current global political situation with the onset of Corona Virus) makes you believe in the realism of the events/story blind folded, which is what a great book should do according to the legendary, Roald Dahl.
Xianqui takes you on a diverse journey from India, Tibet, Tanzania, China, Japan, USA to Papua New Guinea, spread over different times with equally varied characters, but never once losing either the cohesiveness or the coherence in the story.
It treats you to geo politics, suspense, adventures, technology, science, mythology, ancient fables, history, intelligence agencies, undercover agents - a dream come true for a thrill seeking reader.
You'd neither want to put the book down nor want it to end. Someone please make a movie out of it already ! If you still can't tell, it's a must, must read !
February 15, 2021
With the current Situation of COVID and china showing aggressive stance agains all the neighboring countries, this book becomes attractive.
I picked this book because i liked 'AVATARI' and also because it was about china and its politics.
The book starts with China taking a offensive stand to divert attention from the local troubles and then goes into a journey through some beautiful conutries.
4 unexpected people unite together to avert a nuclear war which could kill millions.
The story is fast paced and has lots of twists and moves at a fast pace.
The language is simple and easy to comprehend, even the scientific details have been made easy for people like me :) .
The was strategy and the politics around it is intriguing and shows what countries can go to.
what I did not like was the unnecessary gore added and the unnecessary sex added in the books.
There was no need for that stuff. It felt like the author wants this book to become a movie :)..
Overall I enjoyed it and learnt few things.
I will give this book a 4/5
Deep S
#goodreadsreadingchallenge #goodreads #2021readingchallenge #indianbooks #bookreading #bookreadingchallenge #PoliticalFiction #keedap #keedapreviews
I picked this book because i liked 'AVATARI' and also because it was about china and its politics.
The book starts with China taking a offensive stand to divert attention from the local troubles and then goes into a journey through some beautiful conutries.
4 unexpected people unite together to avert a nuclear war which could kill millions.
The story is fast paced and has lots of twists and moves at a fast pace.
The language is simple and easy to comprehend, even the scientific details have been made easy for people like me :) .
The was strategy and the politics around it is intriguing and shows what countries can go to.
what I did not like was the unnecessary gore added and the unnecessary sex added in the books.
There was no need for that stuff. It felt like the author wants this book to become a movie :)..
Overall I enjoyed it and learnt few things.
I will give this book a 4/5
Deep S
#goodreadsreadingchallenge #goodreads #2021readingchallenge #indianbooks #bookreading #bookreadingchallenge #PoliticalFiction #keedap #keedapreviews
October 28, 2020
A wonderfully researched story, anchored in history and Geo Politics and yet displaying an almost uncanny prophetic account - Raghu in just his second book has displayed a maturity worth a much more published author. The story has enough dramatic twists to hold the readers interest and makes it a gripping and enthralling read.
Tashi and Anjali - as similar as chalk and cheese with free spirits being the sole common link - rising from oblivion to become silent saviours of the world, something which everyone dreams of. Their feelings, emotions, conflicting doubts and yet the quest to achieve their goals and fulfill their promises can only be described by someone who has in depth understanding of human psychology. The author makes them so real and believable that the reader feels transposed into the character itself.
The dramatic twists introduced by the author could never have been foreseen and every few pages a new surprise awaits you. And yet the reality with which the scenes have been described makes one feel as if the reader is witnessing everything real time.
A book for all ages, it is certainly amongst the best I have read in my life.
Tashi and Anjali - as similar as chalk and cheese with free spirits being the sole common link - rising from oblivion to become silent saviours of the world, something which everyone dreams of. Their feelings, emotions, conflicting doubts and yet the quest to achieve their goals and fulfill their promises can only be described by someone who has in depth understanding of human psychology. The author makes them so real and believable that the reader feels transposed into the character itself.
The dramatic twists introduced by the author could never have been foreseen and every few pages a new surprise awaits you. And yet the reality with which the scenes have been described makes one feel as if the reader is witnessing everything real time.
A book for all ages, it is certainly amongst the best I have read in my life.
October 20, 2020
Xianqui was one of the most difficult books to put down once I commenced reading it. The characters, though look complicated and seem difficult to remember initially but as you read along they become familiar and their emotional depth becomes evident. The research undertaken to give them a life of their own is obvious and prominently felt as they take part in this racy adventure. The background facts related to terrain, geography, history, international relations, technology and even a bit of mythology have been imaginatively employed to set the stage for this thriller where the characters acquire a life of their own. The book gives out an interesting mix of history, science and myths to relate to current day realities of the relatons between world powers. A must read thriller .
November 15, 2020
Couldn’t wait for the Paperback which would have been available on 6th Oct, so downloaded the Kindle edition on 1st evening. Once I began reading it over the long weekend, Xianqui was riveting from the beginning to the end.
The plot is bold, intrepid , objective and balanced - I was awestruck by the limpid perspicacity of Xianqui! The characters have been well introduced and build up gradually, merging into the storyline unimpeachably.
Raghu does not believe in sesquipedalian loquaciousness nor is given to rodomontade. The book’s research is unembellished with tortuous convolutions and expressed without ostentation.
Those who love fiction cannot afford to miss this.
The plot is bold, intrepid , objective and balanced - I was awestruck by the limpid perspicacity of Xianqui! The characters have been well introduced and build up gradually, merging into the storyline unimpeachably.
Raghu does not believe in sesquipedalian loquaciousness nor is given to rodomontade. The book’s research is unembellished with tortuous convolutions and expressed without ostentation.
Those who love fiction cannot afford to miss this.
November 8, 2020
This racy thriller covers a wide canvas, each element meticulously researched. It takes you from the high altitude glaciated peaks to the islands of the Pacific Ocean, exploring modern science juxtaposed with ancient wisdom, presenting cultures from across the globe, all set in contemporary high octane, high risk-reward international mind games. The plot is highly plausible, yet previously unexplored and presents fresh insights into modern day international relations. A good read, ideal to carry on the long awaited vacation or for breaks during WFH.
November 9, 2020
One thing commonly felt by all reviewers is that this is an extremely fast paced and unputdownable novel. Reading about 400 pages in flat two days is not my style of reading, but I did it without even realizing.
Raghu is so thorough with his research, and that goes for his first novel Avatari also, that many a times while reading the books one gets a feeling of reading a non-fiction. The story is contemporary Global politics with a generous dose of Tibetan mythology thrown in. Edge of the seat adventure remains the core of the book and that one certainly expects from an Army General.
Raghu is so thorough with his research, and that goes for his first novel Avatari also, that many a times while reading the books one gets a feeling of reading a non-fiction. The story is contemporary Global politics with a generous dose of Tibetan mythology thrown in. Edge of the seat adventure remains the core of the book and that one certainly expects from an Army General.
October 23, 2020
Xianqui is a gripping thriller with a blend of current volatile world order & a near real fiction. It made for a great read & is meant for a wide audience. The ongoing pandemic, tense Sino-Indian ties, US-China Trade War & the US Presidential elections have all been incorporated in the narrative seamlessly. One of the best in the contemporary era, the book is bound to appeal both fiction readers & China observers alike.
Enjoyed thoroughly.
Enjoyed thoroughly.
December 18, 2020
After Avatari I wasn’t ready for another incredulous journey Raghu takes us to, in Xianqui. A heady but plausible mix of science, spirit(ual), secrets, geo-politics, military, and of course weapons... with history, geography and travel!
Very well researched and erudite compilation of nuggets that will send you googling to know more.
The landscape is gigantic, the plot intriguing and the pace thrilling.
Very well researched and erudite compilation of nuggets that will send you googling to know more.
The landscape is gigantic, the plot intriguing and the pace thrilling.
April 3, 2023
A fun, quick whirlwind of a tale - part Indiana Jones, part The Mummy or National Treasure - with Geo politics thrown in for good measure too.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 14 reviews