Rendezvousing With the Chakravartin Samrats Of Bharatvarsh!


Book Review - The Prince of Patliputra
Pages - 382
Reading time - 2 days (Once you start, you just can't stop! )



The book is authored by Shreyas Bhave,whose first book proves he is a rising star in the literary horizon.Writing a historical fiction isn't a layman's task.It requires deep knowledge, well researched facts and the ability to weave magic of words so keep the readers enthralled. The author has done the work quite well. The book never makes you feel at dullsville .Each line in the book is well measured and deeply embedded with the historical roots of India.

Why should you read the book? 
There is actually no reason you shouldn't. The book is a must read. After Freedom at midnight, this is the only book that actually kept me gripped.
Samrat Chandragupta and Samrat Ashoka are two names which never fails to fascinate the ardent folloWers of Indian history,including me. This book ''The Prince of Pataliputra'' deals with both the great emperors and their journey towards the throne side by side.
Somehow the trials and ordeals faced by Chandragupta Mourya were similar to the ones faced by Ashoka.This book shows the journey in a parallel way without creating any confusion in the reader's mind. As you turn the pages, you will get transited to the great palace of Pataliputra. The chapters are so well written that each words evokes a feeling of ecstacy in the mind of readers.The descriptions are so vivid that one moment you are the brave King Porus facing Alexander the great, another moment you feel you are Arya Chanakya,  smirking and vowing vengeance.
A must read if you are a fan of historical fiction. And even if you aren't, you will not regret picking up this book.
My say on the book
I thoroughly relished the book. My favourite character turned out to be Arya Chanakya. The great teacher of Taxila academy, Chanakya is a well known personality. His wit beyond measure is fantastically depicted in the book. Be it great emperors like Chandragupta,or Ashoka, or a reprobate like Raja Ambhi, none could match upto Arya Chanakya when it came to getting his work done. You will not fail to smile as the book progresses and you see how he gets the ball in his court with his intelligence.
The narration of the book is incredible, the plot never loses it's grip, the romance portrayed never goes overboard and the language is easy to read and grasp.
The book portrays bitter betrayal, victories, bravely fought battles, grave life changing decisions and ingenious tactics.It is a perfect feast, adorned with the right amount of politics, and a pinch of romance, added to the cauldron of conspiracies relating to the Game of thrones.
The only part that could have been taken into consideration would be the way Maharaja Bindusara has been portrayed. THis character has been overlooked in the book. . Apart from his consistence illness and his hatred towards Ashoka,nothing much is known about him.
There could have been a chapter or two from his perspective too and t his could have acted as an extra topping on this book. But this absence doesn't steal the grandeur of the book.
Hence,  to conclude,this book is a perfect depiction of the lives of the two great emperors.
I would have loved reading the next part as soon as i flipped the 382nd page. But alas!  Its a long wait I suppose.

My ratings.
Plot ****

Depiction *****
Language ****

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