Shanta: The story of Rama’s sister by Anand Neelakantan

​"Shanta: The story of Rama’s sister" by Anand Neelakantan - The unknown!

This e-book is published by Westland in 2017 and has 33 pages. 

Shanta, daughter of Dasharath and Kausalya, is an unloved child. Shanta craves for their love, appreciation and recognition. But the parents are obsessed with the son that they don’t have. The much needed heir to the throne. Only Manthara and Kaikeyi love her. 

Will Shanta get her parents love? What sacrifice will she have to do? Will she be recognized?

A Princess who is forced to become a seductress. A daughter who has no rights but is expected to perform her duty and supreme sacrifices. Unreciprocated love of a daughter. The only ones who love her for what she is are her step mother Kaikeyi and her maid Manthara. Both livid at the treatment meted to her. 

It’s an interesting angle. Author’s imagination deserves applause. That is a compliment! I know of many who haven’t ever heard of Shanta, Ram’s elder sister, forget knowing her story, brief as it is. Author has brought his version of her story to us. It’s a very small story published as an ebook. It deserved to be at least a novella. 

Why did I read this book? Curiosity about author’s take on Shanta. 

What did I like? Author’s angle. 

What I didn't like? Length. 

A must read.

War of Lanka by Amish - Hot and Cold

​"War of Lanka" by Amish - Hot and Cold!

This book is published by HarperCollins Publishers India in 2022 and has 475 pages. This is fourth book of Ram Chandra Series. 

Ravan has abducted Sita in previous book. He tells her, her true identity. Ram must attack Lanka and destroy its army to become hero and discharge his duties as seventh Vishnu. Bharat has traveled south with massive Ayodhyan Navy. It’s war of Lanka!

What is Sita’s true identity? Why Ravan doesn’t hurt Sita? Will the animosity between Vasishtha and Vishwamitra alter the course of history? How was the Ram Setu built? How was the war of Lanka fought?

There is politics here. Malayputras (tribe left behind by previous Vishnu, Parshuram) are led by Vishwamitra and have acknowledged Sita as the seventh Vishnu. Vayuputras (tribe left behind by previous Mahadev, Rudra) led by Hanuman, have acknowledged Ram as seventh Vishnu. Both try to push forward their case. Who is the real Vishnu? Ram believes it’s Sita and Sita believes it’s Ram. 

There are two highlights of this book. First is building of Ram Setu by the best engineer Shatrughna. He thinks of everything. Sea currents, type of water, most appropriate material of construction, hydrodynamics etc. Engineering behind building of Ram Setu is fascinating. Second is the naval battle . The war tactics, use of natural resources like rivers and artificial resources like dam, artificial canal, secret tunnels, the faint and real attack. All of it is well thought, brilliantly devised and neatly presented. Author has made extensive use of waterways. He did the same in his Shiva trilogy too.

However, the naval battle turns out to be of no significance eventually and the real war is fought outside the walls of Lankan capital Sigiriya. This war brings the graph down drastically. Mind you the war is not bad, it’s meticulously explained, especially the Ram-Ravan duel, but the expectations raised by naval battle are not met by the real war. The real war falls short. It’s a two day war. While trying to make it realistic author has lost the grandeur and magnificence. It’s like hot and cold treatment. 

Contrary to popular story, here Bharat and Shatrughna come with the mighty Ayodhya navy and army to attack Lanka and play a vital part in war. It makes sense, if your queen is kidnapped, the empire will strike back. Mandodari doesn’t marry Vibhishan. Ravan’s character undergoes inexplicable change between last book and this. Shatrughna is the brilliant engineer, not a warrior. Vibhishan is shown as sly, disgusting, sneaky weasel of a turncoat and a genius engineer. Lakshman is massive, powerful, impulsive, not a tactician, brave, fierce warrior. Kumbhakarna is powerful, wise, noble soul, respected by all. So is Indrajit. Ram is the personification of virtue and dharma. He is a brilliant general. Bharat is the able deputy of Ram. Hanuman is good tactician. 

Credit to the author who has written a brilliant first half of the book with attention to detail. It’s not a testosterone fueled war or emotionally charged one. The war is inevitability. It’s meticulously planned, methodically executed, fiercely fought. It doesn’t only charge you, it makes you think. 

Author has fudged timelines. So Playwright Bhasa, Jain Tirthankaras, Shakyas, Vajjis, Sikhi Buddha and various Greek scholars are contemporaries of Ram. This appears unnecessary. 

Addition to my collection of beautiful sentences:

What makes life worth living is figuring out what is worth dying for. And then dying for it.

The series is not over. The Vishnu is established by a magnificent victory over evil. Now the real work lies ahead. It’s to give an alternative to the people and lead them to a new way of life. That will be the next book amiss the series. 

The books of this series have come after long intervals. One forgets the details of previous book by the time next one is out. Solution? Release next one without a long gap and provide the summary of previous story in each book of the series. Are the publishers listening?

Why did I read this book? Author.

What did I like? It’s Ram Setu engineering, war.  

What I didn't like? Last war lacks grandeur and magnificence. 

Read if you are reading and would continue to read the series. Otherwise don’t bother. 

Kala Ghoda: The game of power by Ashwini Malhotra

​"Kala Ghoda: The game of power" by Ashwini Malhotra - The story prospers! 

This book is published by Dhruva Publishers in 2021. This is Book 2 of 'Kala Ghoda' series.  

Now Iqbal is undisputed king of underworld. He has married Imran’s widow. Badi Ammi, his mentor’s wife, has accepted him. Zeenat’s sons hate him for killing their father. There are three attempts on his life. There are elections in Maharashtra. National party Vs Regional party politics requires Iqbal’s money. 

How does Iqbal survive attempts on his life? Will Zeenat’s sons accept him? Who will he support in elections? Can anyone challenge him?

Iqbal is the central character of this book. He knows that Sultan is trying to kill him from Dubai. He knows there is at least one traitor in his gang. He makes a complex plan. One that will reveal traitor and kill multiple birds in one stone. 

The story is interesting. It’s decently paced. Characters like Badru, Shiva, Commissioner are interesting. Zeenat’s character is special. You instantly like her. She only has a brief role in Book 1. However, the character that steals the show is Iqbal. 

Author has gone overboard with Iqbal’s power in politics. Politicians won’t allow anyone to become so powerful. If someone somehow becomes so powerful, politicians will ensure that he is taken care of. Nothing of the sort happens here. 

The book ends with revelation of the traitor and challenger to Iqbal. That person comes out of nowhere. Generally author should sprinkle clues that the readers will recall upon revelation. Here author leaves just one clue. One important question remains in the reader’s mind. When traitor had multiple opportunities to kill Iqbal, why doesn’t he?

The story happens in late 1980s. There’s a scene near Abu Dhabi’s Marina mall. Marina mall was constructed in 2000. Author’s research is found lacking. 

The book ends but not the story. How will Iqbal deal with new contender? Wait for Book 3. 

Why did I read this book? Book 1 was readable. 

What I didn't like? A little overboard in politics. 

What did I like? Happening story. 

Recommend reading. 

Kala Ghoda: The game begins by Ashwini Malhotra

​"Kala Ghoda: The game begins" by Ashwini Malhotra -It’s gang war!

This book is published by Dhruva publishers in 2018 and has 330 pages. This is Book 1 of 'Kala Ghoda' series.

Muhammad Qureshi runs the biggest gang in Bombay. One day there is an attack on his gang,. Three kills, including his heir apparent and eldest son Imran. Muhammad gets Iqbal released from jail, his weapon, he calls him Kala Ghoda, the dark horse, the black knight on chess board. Task is cut-out for Iqbal. Find and eliminate the one behind this. 

why was Iqbal in Jail? Why is he called Kala Ghoda? Can he avenge the killings? Will there be a gang war?

Years ago Muhammad came to Bombay with 50 rupees and rose to become king of underworld. Iqbal is son of Sakeena, sworn sister of Muhammad, and is almost family. He is capable, fearless and has subdued the Shetty gang and established Muhammad as the undisputed king of underworld. He has also lost his brother before he went to jail and his mother while he was in jail. Imran, Akram and Yousuf are Muhammad’s sons. Iqbal’s assistant is Salim. Sounds like Pakistan cricket team of the past?

It’s an underworld gang war story, so it’s interesting. Your interest is retained by the author. Once the mastermind is revealed, it becomes more interesting. Although the story is predictable, you still want to know what happens next. You shouldn’t compare it to the mafia gold standard ‘The Godfather’. 

The English leaves much to be desired. There are errors of tense, grammar, there is use of wrong words. Proof reader was not only napping, he/she was fast asleep. 

This is the first book of the series and second book is already published. Plan to read it next. 

Why did I read this book? Title.

What did I like? Story. 

What I didn't like? English.  

Recommend reading. 

Deadly shadows by Rajinder Prabhakar

​"Deadly shadows" by Rajinder Prabhakar - A thriller!

This book was published by Bloomsbury India in 2020 and has 308 pages. 

SAG53 is a special unit, that doesn’t exist, tasked to carry out ultra covert operations. It’s headed by Colonel Abhi Thakur. The deadliest and best operative of this unit is Adit Ohri. There are a spate of inexplicable events. 16,000 dead in two different incidents. 5 politicians are murdered. 10 villages have disappeared; men, women, children, animals, houses included. Blasts in Goa. Multiple MPs and MLAs killed. 

Who is behind these killings? Why? What is the endgame? 

So we have a megalomaniac billionaire who wants to change the demographics. There is Sergei Koponov, ex-KGB mafia drug lord of Goa and a Russian hit man. There is PM Romesh Desai. He is a sharp, no nonsense, sincere person with aim to make the country stronger. He has invigorated the bureaucracy. He has risen from bottom and was voted to power by overwhelming majority. Reminds you of someone? Then there is Abhi Thakur, not just boss of Adit but also his father’s best friend who is like a father to Adit. Then there is Adit, the protagonist. He is the best operative but he’s also emotional, an oxymoron. Then there is Alia, a scientist of NTRO, beautiful, intelligent, tasked to assist Adit. 

It’s a good story. A good concept. The action scenes are good. If such a weapon in invented, it can be disastrous in wrong hands. The concept of the weapon is bone chilling. However, why it makes the humans, animals and houses disappear but doesn’t make the ground below and grass disappear? Alia’s role is also ill conceived. She is assigned to help Adit but ends up offering almost no help using her expertise. The final logic of the mastermind is also a little twisted. But for these factors, it would have been a really good thriller. 

Book ends with a clear hint of a sequel. 

Book cover says that it’s a thriller inspired by true events.  Don’t know how much of the story is based on true events. 

Why did I read this book? Cover. Amazon ratings. 

What did I like? Overall story. 

What I didn't like? Flaws mentioned above. 

Recommend reading.