The curse of Anuganga by Harini Srinivasan

"The curse of Anuganga" by Harini Srinivasan - Whodunnit?

This book is published by TreeShade Books India in 2019 and has 296 pages. This is a historical fiction. 

Nandivardhana, Capital of Vakataka kingdom. Murder of a noble, days before wedding of his daughter. Foreign spies. Sons of a goldsmith who has other talent. A conspiracy. A curse.

Who was murdered? Why are goldsmith's sons involved? What is the plot? What is the curse? Whodunnit?

The story is set in 403 CE and largely takes place in Nandivardhana (Today's Nagardhan, near Ramtek, Maharashtra), capital of Vakataka dynasty. Author says she has tried to be true to the period. Staying close to facts makes the fiction more palatable and appears authentic. Author has done a good job recreating the old times. Feels real. 

The story has multiple interesting characters. Prabhavatigupta, daughter of Chandragupta II and Queen Regent of of Vakataka kingdom. Her two sons Diwakarsena and Damodar. Mahakavi Kalidas, royal poet in Chandragupta's court and Prabhavati's tutor when she was a child. He is a multifaceted personality. Not only a poet and playwright, he is also a spy, a counsellor and ambassador of Magadha. Arya Bharavi, the police chief. Shaunak and Ashwini, sons of Goldsmith, who discover their latent talents. Arya Vinayashura, an arrogant and obnoxious noble, who is murdered. Devi Tanirika, wife of Vinayshura.

The story is slow burn. It's expected of old times. It keeps you interested. In the beginning you think it's about the murder, then you think it's about the conspiracy and finally it's a bit of both with murder outweighing the conspiracy. Reader keeps wondering till the end what the significance of Anuganga and the curse is. It turns out to be almost irrelevant.

Interestingly,  everyone in this book prays and propitiates to Lord Vasudev, not Krishna. 

It's a murder mystery but the end of it is a little bit disappointing because the investigators don't catch the murderer. 

Why did I read this book? Interesting title. 

What I didn't like? Author's indecisiveness about conspiracy or murder. 

What did I like? Old times recreated. 

Read it for a change. 

The Midas legacy by Andy McDermott

"The Midas legacy" by Andy McDermott - Nonstop action!

This book is published by Headline in 2017 and has 624 pages. This is Book 12 of 'Nina Wilde-Eddie chase' series.

Nina and Eddie retrieve a second secret codex of Atlantean explorer Telenor from Temple of Poseidon from sunken Atlantis. A mysterious old lady claims to be Nina's grandmother and gives her research of her mother regarding Midas cave. An important artifact is stolen from Nepal.

What does the codex say? Is the old lady really her grandmother? Where was she for so many years? Where is Midas cave? Who will Nina and Eddie fight this time?

We know the Greek legend of King Midas. Whatever he touched turned to gold. He inadvertently turned his daughter in a gold statue. Here, that Midas is an Atlantean Prince. His cave is special. 

The story is roughly divided in four parts. First part happens in Nepal, second in Greece, third in Iceland and fourth in North Korea. The plan in north Korea is nothing less than a hair brained scheme. It's a non stop action adventure, so the audience remains entertained. 

The standard Andy McDermott formula applies here too. Nina and Eddie search for an ancient site / artefact based on a legend. They find it. There is a billionaire, megalomaniac supervillain trying to appropriate their find. There is a lot of action garnished by Eddie's wise ass cracks and one liners. Lot of violence and too many deaths. One hair brained scheme after another to fight. The schemes succeed!

This book has leaking H2S, Liquid N2, Plutonium Radiation, Missiles exploding, Jump from a airplane without parachute,  Flying truck, jump into a flying airplane. All seemingly impossible, all successful. 

At the end of the book Nina and Eddie say that they will never leave their daughter again. Let's see!

 

Why did I read this book? Author

What I didn't like? Trip to North Korea.

What did I like? Entertaining. 

Read if you have read the series and liked it.

The Vishakanya's choice by Roshini Chokshi

"The Vishakanya's choice" by Roshini Chokshi -  What's it?

This e-book is published in 2015 by Book Smugglers Publishing and has 31 pages. It's a single short story. 

As the title suggests, it's the story of Sudha who is a Vishakanya. It's Hastinapur of old times. She is tasked to assassinate Alexander the great. 

Will she succeed? What's her choice?

Author has chosen a time period of history and added a dash of mythology to enhance the mysticism of this short story. So there are Rakshas, Gandharvas, a metallic Makara etc. Alexander sits on the Throne of Bones of those he killed. Rule and Choice are tangible things, not concepts. 

The real issue is what is Vishakanya? Is she a weapon or a human? Does she have feelings and desires? How is she treated? What is Vishakanya's choice?

Cover of this book is drawn by a Filipina artist, M Sereno. The cover is detailed and abstract at the same time. Apart from the lack of ornamentation of Vishakanya, it looks mysterious. 

It's a short story written by author before her first novel was published. 

Why did I read this book? Quick read.  

What I didn't like? Length. 

What did I like? Blend of history and mythology. 

Decent quick read. 

The conqueror by Aditya Iyenga

"The conqueror" by Aditya Iyengar - Chola period fiction!

This book was published by Hachette India in 2018 and has 272 pages. It's the story of King Rajendra Chola I, who mastered the seas. 

Emperor Rajendra Chola's battleships and army attack and defeat Srivijay on Suwarnadwipa (Today's Sumatra) and capture and take the king (Maharaja Sangrama Vijayatunggavarman) back to India. His wife and daughter escape. 

Why is Sangrama being taken to Cholanadu? What terms await him in Cholanadu? Why did Rajendra Chola invade Suwarnadwipa? What will be the fate of escaped Queen and Princess?

The book is divided into chapters and each chapter has the story dictated by the captured king to a scribe. Last portion of each chapter also tells us the story of his wife and daughter back in his land. 

It's an interesting concept to narrate the story through a prisoner. However it also has limitations. A prisoner can't narrate the events in detail that he hasn't witnessed. So the narration becomes indirect and consequently becomes less exciting. In this case it becomes boring. Author fails to keep the pace, momentum and interest. 

Byline of the title is " The thrilling tale of the king who mastered the seas Rajendra Chola I". But instead its the take of conquered king. The title should have been "The conqueree". The exciting stuff happens only in last few pages of the book. 

Author has given a map of south India at the start of the book, but it's not good and it's unclear. A better map was required. 

There isn't much literature (fiction and non fiction) about Cholas, one of the longest ruling dynasties in the world. This book gave some insights directly or indirectly, when I researched Cholas while reading the book. 

Why did I read this book? Curiosity about Cholas. 

What I didn't like? Uninteresting. 

What did I like? Idea of narration by the prisoner, not execution. 

Give it a miss.

Aquila's ring by Cat Rambo

"Aquila's ring" by Cat Rambo - Fantasy!

This e-book is published in 2014. It's a single short story. This is first book of 'Women of Zalanthas' trilogy. 

Aquila is accosted by the House of Tor, one day after she graduates from Templar academy. A lot of things happen in a week. 

What happens? How does she get the ring? What is so special about Aquila's ring?

It's an undefined time and undefined location. A land called Allanak. The kingdom of Tektolnes. But rules for men and women are not same. Aquila becomes a templar despite born in trading community. A hint of love and her world turns upside down.

It's a curious story. A curious relationship. A curious situation. A curious end. 

Author has used strange names for persons, places and objects. This gives a feel of fantasy land and mystic atmosphere. A land with two moons. 

Why did I read this book? Curiosity

What I didn't like? Abrupt end. 

What did I like? A different world. 

It's short, read it for a change. 

The blue jade by Shobha Nihalani

"The blue jade" by Shobha Nihalani - Tracing travels of Mirabai!

This book was published by Treeshade books in 2020 and has 254 pages.

Neelam Bhatia is an art expert, specializing in Indian artefacts and antiquities and owner of a prestigious gallery in Hong Kong. One day Agent Vinod, an Art detective from Antiquities wing of CBI informs her that the Blue Jade Krishna pendant gifted by Chinese monks to Rajputs and protected by Rana Sang clan (In laws of Mirabai), the one that killed her parents, has resurfaced. 

Why were her parents killed? Who killed them? What's so special about the blue jade? What will Neelam do? How is Mirabai connected?

The story has a strong reference to Princess-Saint Mirabai, a rebellious women who defied all social customs, threw away her life of luxury for unachievable love for Krishna and her world of love.

Telling two stories alternatively started with Ashwin Sanghi's Chanakya's chants. Here author uses same methodology to tell the stories of Neelam and Mirabai. Mirabai's story is unveiled through an audio book that Neelam listens. 

The story is not exciting. It has numerous holes, some of which are provided below. Things happen abruptly. Questions remain unanswered. Too many flaws. As a result it isn't a cohesive story, rather appears like a patchwork quilt.

There are some sudden reversal of positions in this book and the reason given appears unconvincing. Neelam doesn't want to take the responsibility of Jade. Suddenly she decides to take responsibility. Vinod wants her to come to India. But when she agrees, suddenly he doesn't want her to come. Neelam places the paper with symbols on a map and it suddenly makes sense. How come the scales of both match?

Vinod has left government service but Neelam talks to him as if he hasn't and so do other characters, why? Would you go to help a customer find a book when it's your first time at the book shop? Author says Neelam didn't pray particularly at a holy site, but earlier she is shown lighting incense stick at a Buddhist temple. If Neelam knew her final destination, why does she travel to so many cities and risk losing the blue jade?

Author should have given a little more emphasis on Neelam's dreams. Since she mentions it in passing, one wonders if it is important or an appendage. Author should have also given the map her grandmother had drawn to understand her travel.

Book ends with the news of another artefact being stolen. Neelam vows to find it. Expect a sequel.

Why did I read this book? Goodreads rating. 

What did I like? Story of Mirabai. 

What I didn't like? Many things as stated above.

Give it a miss!