Palace of assassins: The rise of Ashwatthama by Aditya Iyengar

"Palace of assassins: The rise of Ashwatthama" by Aditya Iyengar - A post Mahabharata fiction.   

This book is published by Hachette India in 2016 and has 223 pages.

The great war of Kurukshetra is over. Ashwatthama wakes up in a desert, full of boils all over his body leaking blood and puss. He remembers the curse of  the cowheard. Kasturi, a war widow, looks after him. After recovery he meets a group of Kaurav soldiers who survived the war. 

Is he sated? Or does he still want revenge? Does he repent about his behaviour at the end of war? Is he still angry at Krishna?

Author has come up with an interesting idea. Would Ashwatthama want his unfulfilled revenge? Does he look at his immortality as a curse or a boon? Author must have wondered about it and decided to write a fiction. It's a good seed. 

The story is interesting. The concept of Tatva, powerful gems Syamantaka & Kalakamani, after effects of immortality are very effectively used. When one reads a fiction about Ashwatthama, one expects him to be the protagonist and in charge. However, here although he is the protagonist, he doesn't seem to be in charge.  He is dragged along with Samasaptakas. Would real Ashwatthama play a second fiddle to a commoner? Will he be clueless? Can he be blackmailed?

Character of Ashwatthama appears confused. Rather than driving his own destiny, he follows others and doesn't seem to be in charge of his destiny. Character of Senapati is overdone. He knows everything. How? Can't say. Kanya is a mother before avenger. Simha is a kid in awe of Ashwatthama. 

As the book title says its the story of Ashwatthama. However, it's a story with a difference. All Mahabharata related stories happen during Mahabharata and end with the great war. This story starts after the great war. Credit to author to imagine a story, a sub plot to the epic and place it immediately after the war of Kurukhshetra. 

Immortal Ashwatthama has always fueled the imagination of various authors. There have been many fictions about Ashwatthama. This author, however, asks a pertinent question. Did Ashwatthama give up after he was condemned to immortality and leprosy? Did he try to reverse the curse?

Author has made a provision of a sequel. If a sequel comes by, we will see Ashwatthama, thousands of years later, in the city of Troy, during Trojan war, trying to find Syamantaka to regain mortality. 

Why did I read this book? Blurb. 

What I didn't like? Tepid climax. 

What did I like? Idea. 

Recommend reading.