THE BRAHMIN
AUTHOR: RAVI SHANKAR ETTETH
PUBLISHER: WESTLAND BOOKS
GENRE: HISTORICAL FICTION, THRILLER
PUBLICATION DATE: 23rd MARCH, 2018
FORMAT: PAPERBACK
PAGES COUNT: 246
GOODREADS RATING: 3.63/5
MY RATING: 3.5/5
BLURB:
AUTHOR: RAVI SHANKAR ETTETH
PUBLISHER: WESTLAND BOOKS
GENRE: HISTORICAL FICTION, THRILLER
PUBLICATION DATE: 23rd MARCH, 2018
FORMAT: PAPERBACK
PAGES COUNT: 246
GOODREADS RATING: 3.63/5
MY RATING: 3.5/5
BLURB:
It is a time
of violence as well as calm. Men of peace are spreading the message of the
Buddha even as monks are being tortured in the dungeons of Pataliputra. In
Magadha, all talk is about the impending war against Kalinga. While King Ashoka
plots the movements of his ships and cavalry, Queen Asandhimitra broods over
the growing unrest in the kingdom. There is only one man they can both trust to
take them through this period of uncertainty and looming danger: the
enigmatically named Brahmin, skilful spymaster and custodian of Magadha’s
best-kept secrets.
Lush with
historical detail and unforgettable characters, The Brahmin is an intricately
plotted novel that seeks to recreate a near-mythical period of India’s past.
MY REVIEW:
'The Brahmin' by Ravi Shankar Etteth has a gripping plot line and is rich in historical details. The story is set in the Mauryan Era, while King Ashoka was preparing for the forthcoming war against Kalinga.
In the Harem of Pataliputra, someone is killing Ashoka's concubines. When one such concubine is murdered and burnt, a cestus is found along with a 'kovidara', also known as the blood flower beside the dead body. Blood flower is a symbol of a dangerous assassin, who is known to leave a 'kovidara' besides all his victims. The king gave the spymaster a week's time to solve the mystery and to identify the main culprit behind this gruesome murders.
The narrative style is quite intriguing, and the vocabulary used by the author is quite notable. The story starts out slow, but, after a few chapters, it becomes gripping and I finished it in a flow. Although, at times I had to go back in the previous chapters to find out what is happening in the present. The climax is surprising, but I kind of predicted it beforehand.
The things in the book which fascinated me are the intrinsic details of the historic times, such as the description of the palaces, royal lifestyles, cuisines and etc. The descriptions are so intricate and vivid, that while reading I felt like I am a part of their world.
The best part of this book are the powerful characters that is, King Ashoka, the spymaster, Hao, and Queen Asandhimitra. The characters are very well-developed and makes the plot line more interesting. The character of the Brahmin is loosely based on Chanakya, and we get to see a different side of the King Ashoka. Queen Asandhimitra is just not a mere wallflower, but one who actively takes part in the administration of the kingdom. Hao, one of the most trusted spy of the Brahmin portrays a bold and fierce character in the book.
Overall, 'The Brahmin' was a nice read and is recommended to any reader who is interested in historical-thriller fictions.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ravi Shankar Etteth is the author of four novels: 'The Tiger by the River' (2002), 'The Village of the Widows'(2003), 'The Gold of their Regrets'(2009), and 'The Book of Shiva' (2016). He has been a graphic designer, political cartoonist and editor of magazines and newspapers. He currently lives in Delhi and works as a consulting editor with The New Indian Express Group.
*I received a copy of the book from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.*
To buy a copy of the book, click on the link here
For more bookish updates, follow me on Instagram
To request for book reviews, write to me at abhibasu.1997@gmail.com.
'The Brahmin' by Ravi Shankar Etteth has a gripping plot line and is rich in historical details. The story is set in the Mauryan Era, while King Ashoka was preparing for the forthcoming war against Kalinga.
In the Harem of Pataliputra, someone is killing Ashoka's concubines. When one such concubine is murdered and burnt, a cestus is found along with a 'kovidara', also known as the blood flower beside the dead body. Blood flower is a symbol of a dangerous assassin, who is known to leave a 'kovidara' besides all his victims. The king gave the spymaster a week's time to solve the mystery and to identify the main culprit behind this gruesome murders.
The narrative style is quite intriguing, and the vocabulary used by the author is quite notable. The story starts out slow, but, after a few chapters, it becomes gripping and I finished it in a flow. Although, at times I had to go back in the previous chapters to find out what is happening in the present. The climax is surprising, but I kind of predicted it beforehand.
The things in the book which fascinated me are the intrinsic details of the historic times, such as the description of the palaces, royal lifestyles, cuisines and etc. The descriptions are so intricate and vivid, that while reading I felt like I am a part of their world.
The best part of this book are the powerful characters that is, King Ashoka, the spymaster, Hao, and Queen Asandhimitra. The characters are very well-developed and makes the plot line more interesting. The character of the Brahmin is loosely based on Chanakya, and we get to see a different side of the King Ashoka. Queen Asandhimitra is just not a mere wallflower, but one who actively takes part in the administration of the kingdom. Hao, one of the most trusted spy of the Brahmin portrays a bold and fierce character in the book.
Overall, 'The Brahmin' was a nice read and is recommended to any reader who is interested in historical-thriller fictions.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ravi Shankar Etteth is the author of four novels: 'The Tiger by the River' (2002), 'The Village of the Widows'(2003), 'The Gold of their Regrets'(2009), and 'The Book of Shiva' (2016). He has been a graphic designer, political cartoonist and editor of magazines and newspapers. He currently lives in Delhi and works as a consulting editor with The New Indian Express Group.
*I received a copy of the book from Writersmelon in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.*
To buy a copy of the book, click on the link here
For more bookish updates, follow me on Instagram
To request for book reviews, write to me at abhibasu.1997@gmail.com.
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