The exiled Prince by Ravi

"The exiled Prince" by Ravi. This book is published by Fingerprint! in 2014 and has 262 pages. This is Book 1 of 'The crystal guardian' series.

Don't try to imagine what the story is about. It's the story of Ramayan told differently. The crystal of creation, guarded by the council of Brahmarshi's, has gone missing. Ravan has become too powerful to oppose. He has got hold of Elixir of life. If he gets hold of the crystal, it's end of the world for celestials and humans. Ram, who is still to be born, is the only hope.

Ram tells the story of his life to his children and we read it in flash back.

Author has done away with magic and based everything on science. Brahmarshi's have the ability of intergalactic travel, space travel, time travel. They can also travel through parallel universes. God's are present and they are powerful but Ravan has become so powerful that it is going to take the birth of Ram with Narayana's soul in him to defeat Ravan.

Thus the events unfold where Ram is born. Vishwamitra takes responsibility of tutoring him and making him capable. Kaikeyi helps Ram in fulfilling his destiny by sending him to Vanvas accepting loss of her reputation as the sacrifice that has to be made for Ravan's defeat.

Book 1 ends with Ram, Lakshman and Sita reaching Chitrakoot. I thought author would stop at the start of Vanvas, but he goes a little further. I suppose two more books are still to come.

Key differentiator of this book is of course the crystal of creation who has its own mind and who somehow responds to Sita (though she is unaware of it).

It's the same story in news clothes presented differently, but it's good.

Recommend reading.

The Bankster by Ravi Subramanian

"The Bankster", by Ravi Subramanian, who is dubbed as John Grisham of banking, by Wall Street Journal. This is his 4th book, although 1st one I read.

Three stories run in parallel. A CIA agent works as arms supplier. A nuclear power plant is built in Kerala and locals oppose it. Three employees of a multinational bank are murdered.

Who has done it? Is it related to money laundering? Is there any connection between 3 stories?
How does it end?

This book has all the ingredients for a thriller. Corporate politics, governance issues, ambitious managers, extra marital affair, use of good looks to further ones clause, NGO's controlled by external powers, nuclear politics, religion, murders and investigative journalists.

Character of Indrani appears to be inspired by Chanda Khochar of ICICI. All characters are sufficiently developed. Inner workings of banking industry is used as background for the story. How bankers run after business, how protocol is overlooked, how rules are bypassed and how things are influenced is shown in detail. I liked the title. By calling it Bankster, author has simultaniously raised curiosity and made it look sinister. Full marks for the title.

Story keeps you interested. Pace is even.You do not get bored. After reading this book, I do not mind reading other 3 books by Ravi.

Although it is not a 'wow' book, it's a good read.