Book Review : Ajaya #1 - Roll of the Dice

Book Name : Ajaya : Roll of the Dice (Epic of the Kaurava Clan #1)

Author : Anand Neelakantan

Genre : Mythological Fiction

ISBN Code : 9789381576038

Publisher : Leadstart Publishing Pvt. Ltd.

Publication : 2013

Pages : 455

Binding : Paperback

Plot :

THE MAHABHARATA ENDURES AS THE GREAT EPIC OF INDIA. But while Jaya is the story of the Pandavas, told from the perspective of the victors of Kurukshetra; Ajaya is the narrative of the 'unconquerable' Kauravas, who were decimated to the last man. At the heart of India's most powerful empire, a revolution is brewing. Bhishma, the noble patriarch of Hastinapura, is struggling to maintain the unity of his empire. On the throne sits Dhritarashtra, the blind King, and his foreign-born Queen Gandhari. In the shadow of the throne stands Kunti, the Dowager-Queen, burning with ambition to see her firstborn become the ruler, acknowledged by all. And in the wings: Parashurama, the enigmatic Guru of the powerful Southern Confederate, bides his time to take over and impose his will from mountains to ocean. Ekalavya, a young Nishada, yearns to break free of caste restrictions and become a warrior. Karna, son of a humble charioteer, travels to the South to study under the foremost Guru of the day and become the greatest archer in the land. Balarama, the charismatic leader of the Yadavas, dreams of building the perfect city by the sea and seeing his people prosperous and proud once more. Takshaka, guerrilla leader of the Nagas, foments a revolution by the downtrodden as he lies in wait in the jungles of India, where survival is the only dharma. Jara, the beggar, and his blind dog Dharma, walk the dusty streets of India, witness to people and events far greater than they, as the Pandavas and the Kauravas confront their searing destinies. Amidst the chaos, Prince Suyodhana, heir of Hastinapura, stands tall, determined to claim his birthright and act according to his conscience. He is the maker of his own destiny or so he believes. While in the corridors of the Hastinapura palace, a foreign Prince plots to destroy India. And the dice falls...

My Rating : ☆☆☆☆☆

Review :

Imagine your life, as you know it. And then imagine, someone coming up and telling you that the life you are living is a lie. That all you thought about yourself till now is all lie. But you refuse to believe that person because you have lived the life and you know there was nothing false about it. But that person has left a germ in your mind - a germ a doubt and now you set out on a path to find out who is right among the two of you - you yourself or the other person...

This book, does exactly that - spreads that germ in your mind, that germ of doubt, that maybe what you have known till now is not really true, that there exists an other side to this coin too like all other coins.

Till now, we have only read about the Pandavas side of story and we all decided that the Pandavas were the good people and Kauravas evil, that 'Suyodhana' deserved to be named 'Duryodhna'... But is this fair, did anyone ever tell us the Kauravas side of story. How did we then decide who was evil and who wasn't???

This book, challenges your beliefs about both the clans... challenges you to rethink about who was right, challenges you to see the other side and not blindly follow what you have been told till now...

A Note Caution though is necessary here, read the book with an open mind because your beliefs about your gods will be shaken, your beliefs about the truth will be challenged!

Go ahead, and read if you dare for this is a beautifully written book. Pick up the book and read it... And trust me, you would want to read the next one - because this book is truly a page turner. This book deserves to be read, this book deserves a chance...

Happy Reading!

P.S. book review of the second book has also been posted in the blog.