The game of Thrones!

Having read The Prince of Patliputra, I was keen to read the next part. And I was extremely overjoyed when the author dropped a mail about his second book, sending me the pre release copy. My happiness had no bounds.

The second book of the Ashoka trilogy ''The Storm from Taxila'', is as pleasing as the first one had been.
The book starts with Arya Chanakya narrating the course of events to the point where the previous book ended.

The Storm From Taxila covers the journey of Ashoka from Vidishanagri to Patliputra and alongside it also depicts Maharaja Sushem's journey to Patliputra for ascending the throne.


The first book dealt only with the journeys of the two samrats -Ashoka and Chandragupta.
But the second one also revolves around the perspective of other characters like Hardeo and Radhagupta.
The second part ends on a cliffhanger keeping your heart racing nineteen to a dozen.

Some instances in the book are heart wrenching and they have been narrated precisely. The Sati of all of Bindusar's Ranis and the casual way people dealt with it at that time is shocking. Alongwith this the brutal murders of the ninety seven brothers was blood curdling too.
I had heard of the bloodshed before Ashoka ascended the throne but the vivid description alarmed me.
The author has done complete justice to the characters, and in depicting  ruthlessness owing to the situation persisting at that time.

The witty and timely  decisions taken by Arya Chanakya clearly stated he wasn't just a Guru, he was the backbone of Mauryan Dynasty and all his actions were cleverly directed towards the betterment of the realm. Although  his last action was unexpected, it clearly showed he knows how to take sweet revenge.

Altogether this book kept me gripped till the last page, it left me heaving for the next part.

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