About the Book:
A kingdom on the brink of collapse. A dynasty under threat. A legacy in peril.
Having taken on the responsibility of governing Kosala in place of his exiled brother Rama, Bharat has had to deal with multiple setbacks – a rakshasa attack on Ayodhya, a drought, a mysterious epidemic of people vanishing, and a waning of the magic that keeps the kingdom protected.
Desperate to bring the magic back and give his people a reprieve, Bharat takes a risky decision… but the gamble puts his son Taksha's life in danger.
Meanwhile, Kosala's rakshasa and human enemies move relentlessly closer to destroying the kingdom. And Sudhanva's rebellion against Bharat erupts when developments in faraway Kekeya cast a shadow of war over Kosala.
At the centre of all this is Bharat, unaware of the dangers that besiege his kingdom and threaten to cause the downfall of the Ikshvakus…
Crackling with characters overlooked and forgotten by the Ramayana,
The Warlord of Ayodhya is a thrilling spinoff by bestselling fantasy author Shatrujeet Nath.
My Thoughts:
"Everyday is a battle between who you are, who you want to be, and who you can be." This is one of my favourite quotes from the book, said by Mandavi to Bharat.
Resurrection picks up where Rebellion ended with Ayodhya thrown into chaos and Bharat stepping further into his role as King on behalf of his brother. This book slows down a little and focuses on the development of various plot lines, some that were introduced in the first book and some which take form directly in this one.
This book further explores Bharat's resentment towards his mother, his love and respect for his brother, drawing on the information of the first book, and brings out his insecurities at being thrust into a role he was unprepared for. When compared to Rebellion, in this book, we see Bharat grow into his position as King, become more decisive and even assertive at times.
With so many people working against him either, it is not so easy to know whom to trust. What truly stood out to me was the strength, support and wisdom Mandavi provided in a quiet manner, not hesitating to call him out on his thoughts and insecurities, thus contributing to his strength in the end. There are also many subplots that come to light with some other characters central to these plots. Each of the characters introduced and each of these plots have something to contribute to the main storyline. How they all come together is what makes this book more interesting.
This book also places a strong focus on character growth, setting a strong direction and tone for the finale in the last book. The climax is perhaps the most unexpected, written in a way that demonstrates masterful storytelling by the author. The art of storytelling are in the nuances and the things unsaid, in the world building and description of the scenes, than just the dialogues. All this and more are captured in the way the author writes, not just in this book but in all his books.
This story is well thought out and in the end leaves the reader wanting more! I admit that I absolutely loved it! I leave you all with another quote (once again said by Mandavi to Bharat) from the book that I hope will resonate with everyone and perhaps encourage us all to embrace our individuality:
"You have to realize that you are different from your father and your brother, and you must let that difference define you."
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