Way of the Rakshasa by Deepak Thomas

"Way of the Rakshasa" by Deepak Thomas - Digression from main story?

This book is published by Astra Media OPC Private Ltd in 2023 and has 378 pages. This is Book 2 of The Epic of Kautilya.

Story of Adi's birth is revealed. How his father and mother were killed by Rakshasa Prime. Kautilya comes to know how Druma and Yama saved and raised Adi. A Rakshasa approaches Adi and Kautilya and informs that his father is alive and promises to take them to Adi's father. They evade Druma, Yama, Sara and Nina and reach Lankapuram. There he finally meets his father. They reach Rakshasa lands from there.

Why did Rakshasa Prime kill Adi's father? Who killed Adi's mother? Who is Adi's father? 

This book is less about Kautilya and more about Adi, the half Rakshasa and half Demigod. In this book, Kautilya and Adi finally accept their love for each other. Adi decides to stay in Rakshasa lands but Kautilya doesn't. When Rakshasas attack Danavas in Lankapuram, Adi and his friends are on opposite sides.

This book is about Adi's identity conflict. He finds himself closer to Rakshasa, which distances him from his friends. Rakshasa Prime becomes close to him which distances him from Kautilya. On one side are people of his kind and on other side love. Kautilya and her friends are helpless. The can't fight him and they can't be with him.

This book is not as exciting as the first one. The story digresses from the story of Kautilya. The story of the throne of Bharat is sidelined. One wonders if author has overemphasized the Adi angle?

Another book is yet to be published. 

Why did I read this book? First book was good.

What did I like? Story of Adi's birth and the deception.

What I didn't like? Digression from main story.

Read if you plan to read the series, otherwise give it a miss.

Born to be King by Deepak Thomas

"Born to be King (The Epic of Kautilya)" by Deepak Thomas -  This isn't about Chanakya!

This book is published by Astra Media Opc Pvt Ltd in 2023 and has 376 pages. This is Book 1 of series 'The epic of Kautilya'.

Princess Kautilya and her 5 brothers are children of King Chandragupta Shveta, King of Bharat. They were born by offering 6 birds to the fire god and possess the qualities of the birds. They go to Guruji, complete their education and return. But something unexpected happens after their return that changes all the equations.

How was their education? What happened after their return? Why are Apes and Bears oppressed? Will Kautilya become king?

Kautilya is a strategist and has excellent memory. Hayan can hear and see any distance. Varun is adept with water. Sameer is fast as the wind. Bali is very strong. Dhanush is the crown prince and is an excellent leader.

Years ago, before Kautilya was born, humans and demigods had defeated the Rakshasa-Asura alliance. Apes and Bears once ruled Dandaka. Now Humans have captured most of it leaving only the hills in Ape control. Apes have become secondary citizens and Yama the undying has formed a squad of misfits forming a rebel force opposing human oppression.

It's a complex social system. The concept of the story is very good and execution is decent. Kautilya is a free thinker and a master strategist. How will things unfold and how will Kautilya be embroiled in it? How will the squad treat her? How will her brothers treat her? The story takes us from Kautilya's childhood to the victory in war. There are interesting characters in the story. A half demon half demigod, a demigod who doesn't remember her past, Yama who always wears mask and no one has seen his face, a Yakshi etc. Kautilya makes lifelong friends and mortal enemies.

The book ends but not the story. Kautilya lets the enemy go. Is it a mistake? Or is there another enemy in next book? Book 2 'Way of the Rakshasa' is already published.

PS - This story is not about Kautilya (कौटिल्य - Chanakya). It's about a princess named Kautilya (कौटिल्या).

Why did I read this book? Interesting title.

What I didn't like? Certain portions appeared unnecessary.

What did I like? The concept.

Recommend reading.

Yellow face by David Henry Hwang

"Yellow face" by  David Henry Hwang - Hilariously scathing!

This book is published by Theater Communications Group in 2009 and has 70 pages.

David Henry Hwang is an American Play writer of Chinese origin. He is very successful and writes satires. One day he opposes casting of a white man as a Chinese man in a play. This creates a scandal.

Later when David Henry Hwang writes a new play he has to cast a protagonist, a Chinese man. After a lot of search he identifies Markus and casts him. From his appearance he seems to have Chinese blood, but asking it would mean racism. So he doesn’t.

Is Markus Chinese? What does David Henry Wong do? How can he defend his selection? What would he do to cover up?

Well, as you have guessed, Markus has no Chinese blood. So, David Henry Wong invents using his liberal creativity. His creativity eventually comes back to haunt him. How? Read the book.

This book is hilariously scathing and depicts stereotype of Asian man in America. It has a unique writing style. It’s written in snippets and dialogues like a play. It’s a small book. That makes it crisp, short and sweet.

I liked very much the way this book ends. Author being the author takes the liberty to end the story the way he wants. But the ending is adorable. It leaves one with a question ‘Does your birth make you Chinese?’

Why did I read this book? Curious name.

What did I like? Crispiness. The end.

What I didn't like? Umm..... 

Recommend reading.

The boy at the top of the mountain by John Boyne

 "The boy at the top of the mountain" by John Boyne - Reflected glory !

This book is published by RH UK in 2016 and has 224 pages.

It’s 1936. Pierrot Fischer, son of German father and French mother, is orphaned. His estranged aunt Beatrix, who works as a house keeper at a home on a mountain top in Berghoff, Austria, takes him in. Everyone in the house is afraid of the master who visits the home but doesn't stay for long. Some even dislike him but would never speak out.

Why did he agree to shelter Pierrot? Will Pierrot be influenced by the master? What will become of his friend Anshel? Who is the master? 

Although the identity of the wealthy and strict master is an enigma for a while, it’s revealed that it’s none other than Adolf Hitler who is convinced that Germany was unfairly treated and he should bring Germany back to its lost glory. 

Somehow, Pierrot ends up spending a lot of time with Hitler and slowly but surely he is indoctrinated. He starts thinking that men are superior. Jews have robbed the Germans and they are sub-humans. He ceases any communication with Anshel. Uniform brings entitlement. He is important and his friendship is something that others should covet. He becomes insolent and considers himself very important. He thinks that the reflected glory is his own.

His aunt doesn’t like the transformation but she is helpless. Then Pierrot takes a step that marks the point of no return. Although he earns Hitler’s trust, his area of influence is restricted to Berghoff. And then the wheel of time turns.

It’s a medium size book. Readers are amazed to witness Pierrot’s metamorphosis. On one side they are amazed and on the other they feel sorry for him. It’s a very pertinent question. What happened to Hitler’s foot soldiers after his death?

Author concludes the book with a beautiful twist. This twist, although unexpected, isn’t out of line with the story. The seeds are already there.

Why did I read this book? Author. 

What I didn't like?  Umm...... 

What did I like? How playable minds work.

Recommend reading.

Samsara by Saksham Garg

 "Samsara" by Saksham Garg - Mythological fiction ! 

This book is published by Penguin in 2022 and has 298 pages. 

Aman Chandra has gone into a shell for 10 yrs after being branded as traitor's son. No friends, no one to talk and practically invisible to everyone. One day a strange Sadhu called Sanaka comes to meet his mother and he eventually lands in Vanyasa. 10 souls from Samsara are admitted to Vanyasa every 10 years. The souls have to undertake mahayatra to find Madhu. But this time there is no Eka.

What is Vanyasa? Why does Aman land there? What is Madhu? What is the destination of the Mahayatra?

Vanyasa or Gyanganj or Shambhala or Shangri-la is the most sought after place. In this book, it's located in the Dronagiri mountains. Location hidden. Nandana the tree that serves as entrance to Vanyasaa with the cowries of a song. Ithika is the daughter of Vanyasa valley. Her father was banished after he stole the most important thing from Vanyasa. Chayan is the enemy of Vanyasa. He should not get hold of Madhu, the life force of Vanyasa.

Arti, Payal, Dhara, Prithvi & Ujal, Ithica, Faiza, Yuvan, Jagrav, Savitri, Dhara are the souls but this time the initiation ceremony of Adwaita has not revealed any Eka, the leader. Guru Ashwini, Mata Uttari, Mata Kritika, Chatwari sadhu are their teachers. There is Mahayana at the end of the year.

Author has tried to write a fiction capitalizing on mythology. It's a novel idea but the execution is poor. There are too many loose ends and open questions. Why the 11th soul? Why the inhabitants of Vanyasa can't find Madhu? What happens to Faisa? What is the logic behind Eka's death? What is the point of the fight with Guru Amrav? How will Indra's plan work if all religions don't follow it? Why kidnap Prithvi?

As a result, although it has some good ingredients it's not credible and digestible.

The sentence I liked from this book:

'She too was fluent in the language of silence.'

Although the book is publicized as India's answer to Harry Potter, it's not an imitation.

Why did I read this book? Recommended by Siddhant.

What did I like? Umm...

What I didn't like? As mentioned in the review.

Give it a miss!

Long shadows by David Baldacci

"Long shadows" by David Baldacci - New partner!

This book is published by Macmillan in 2022 and has 400 pages. This is Book 7 of Memory Man series. 

Amos Decker had a footballing accident that damaged his brain giving him Hyper thymesia (he never forgets anything) and Synesthesia (Associating emotions with color). He is averse to change. But his ex-partner, suffering from dementia, kill’s herself. His recent partner (Alex) moves to another city and his boss retires. Everything changes and Decker doesn't like change. He is assigned a new partner, Frederica White. They are assigned to investigate murder of a Federal Judge Julia Cummins and her bodyguard at her home in a gated community.

Can Decker put up with Frederica? Can he cope with so many changes? Is the case what it looks? Can Decker crack it?

It's a case that turns out to be a very tricky one. There are so many layers to the mystery. The needle of doubt keeps changing from one person to another. The body count increases to five. There is an attempt on Decker's life. Events that happened 40 years ago are also related. Decker can see what no one else can. His perseverance is legendary. But his brusque manner doesn't endear him to anyone. His lack of respect for authority doesn't make him popular.

The story has decent pace but slows down occasionally. There are changes happening to Decker's brain. Frederica is also a tough nut. One thing leads to another. The Soviet angle sounds outdated after so many years after fall of Soviet Union.

Why did I read this book? Have been reading the series.  

What I didn't like? The Soviet angle.

What did I like? Attention to detail.

Not a must read.

The lost temple by Vishwesh Sharma

"The lost temple" by Vishwesh Sharma - Shiva's weapons!

This book is published by Educreation publishing in 2016 and has 260 pages. 

Dr. Ela Sen, an archeologist, gets a call from her ' more than a friend' Prince Surya after 4 years asking her to come and help to decipher clues and find something. Shivnetras call Aghori's to help because a secret that was revealed. A secret they were guarding for centuries. Russians are involved and so are French. Even Chinese are involved. Government of India sends Marcos (Martin Commandos) on the mission led by Rudra aka Rudy also known as Hunter.

What did Surya find? Can Surya and Ela reconnect? Why are there foreign nations interested in something from ancient India? Can Rudy counter the foreign mercenaries? What is the secret?

Ela is a beautiful, intelligent and determined archeologist. She likes Surya when they were in college. But one day he left without saying goodbye. Now years later he calls her and asks for help. He discovers some ancient artifacts in his old family Haweli. Rudy is the best commando and even better leader. He is tall, handsome and intelligent.

The book is written in amateurish way. The clues and the tracking don't appear authentic, they appear shallow. The attraction between Elsa and Rudy seems artificial. The characters other than Ela and Rudy are underdeveloped. Several threads are left unattended like what happens to French? Where did the Chinese go? Why rescue the neckless? Why kill the General?

I had high expectations from this book, but it fell short on all counts.

Why did I read this book? Subject.

What I didn't like? Writing.

What did I like? Umm....

Give it a miss!