Book Review ~ Harsha: The Fearless Warrior of Thanesar by Rajat Pillai

 
 

 
HARSHA: THE FEARLESS WARRIOR OF THANESAR
 
AUTHOR
Rajat Pillai
 
 
Format: Paperback
Publisher : Jaico
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9391019668
 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-9391019662

 

 

 
BLURB

Nothing is permanent in politics. Only scars remain forever. Born a royal and surrounded by luxury, Prince Harshavardhan had assumed that life would be easy. But everything changes shortly after his 17th birthday as the young prince is thrust into hostile territory all alone. A grand game of deceit beyond his age is simmering, and Harsha is the central piece. A ruthless invader, a barbaric neighbor, allies with changing loyalties and untrustworthy deputies are all part of the volatile political landscape he inherits. To add to his woes, a pair of bloodthirsty, psychotic twins stalk him across kingdoms, tracking his every move. The only thing that keeps Harsha alive is the desire to rescue his sister imprisoned by a savage rival. Will the young prince defy all odds to counter Bharatvarsh’s two mightiest kingdoms? Where will destiny take Harsha? Will the Vardhana dynasty sink into history?

 
MY TAKE
(Review)

 
Thrown into a stream
Life and death he sees
Odds heavy weigh him down
Will he cross or drown…

That’s ‘Harsha: The Fearless Warrior of Thanesar’ in a nutshell.

A historical fiction with a lot of twists and turns, ‘Harsha: The Fearless Warrior of Thanesar’ is nothing short of a political drama packed with intrigue, deceit, and shattered dreams. It is the story of the young and uninitiated Prince of Thanesar who has never ever been taken seriously by his subjects. Growing up in the shadow of his elder brother Rajyavardhan, the Crown Prince of Thanesar, our protagonist i.e., Harsha is a happy teenager who does not aspire for the ultimate…the Crown. However, fate has something else in store for him. Suddenly, flung into a whirlpool of intrigue, deceit, and political gameplay Harsha finds himself all alone with a choice to either fight to win or face a death violent. With his loved ones gone too early, and his faith in those close to his family shattered, Harsha loses the will to live, but there is one person for whom he must fight against all odds…his sister. Will Harsha be able to overcome his personal hurdles? Will he be able to survive the weapons of deceit that await him in the form of humans? Will he be able to turn the tide of the war to his favor?…These and many such questions are bound to arise in the reader’s mind as the story progresses.

A story of grit and determination, Harsha: The Fearless Warrior of Thanesar is also the story of coming of age of a young prince. It is a story of strategy and survival. It is a story of clever moves and making most of opportunities available. It is a story that is capable of winning hearts and tickling the brain to ponder over some well-articulated thoughts that are truly quotable.

Well narrated and evenly paced, the book scores high in terms of plot, characterization, and language. Vivid imagery and lucid language combined with an element of suspense makes the book a page-turner in every sense.

 
VERDICT
 

A must read for those who love historical fiction. The book scores a perfect 5 on 5.  
 

 

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Buy the book @ amazon.in
 
 
 
Disclaimer
This review is a part of the Writersmelon Book Reviewing Programme . The thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are my own and have not been influenced by either the author or the publishing house in any manner

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Book Review ~ The Passionate Princess by Sundari Venkatraman

 
 

The Passionate Princess: A Historical Romance
(The Princess Series Book 1)

 

Format : EBook ( Kindle Edition)
ASIN : B08HSNF6GT
Publisher : Flaming Sun (Indie published)
 

 
 

Cupid strikes the very instant Princess Hemangini falls into Prince Devendra’s arms. It looks like destiny is in favour of weaving a ‘lived happily forever’ story when the two royal families of Mahendrapuri and Indrapuri happily give their consent to the young couple to tie the knot. However, things don’t turn out to be that simple once the wedding rituals are over. Devendra’s mother Queen Kanchana Devi has other plans for the couple. If that was not all fate plays spoilsport. Princess Hemangini feels deceived. Why?… That’s a secret that only a reading of the book will reveal.

Crafted well, the story starts on a note of intrigue. As one meanders down the path that Princess Hemangini and Prince Devendra tread from the day destiny throws them together one can’t help but smile. The twists, the turns, the mischief, and the crafty plotting by the Queen Mother as well as the intelligence of Princess Hemangini add spice to a story that is presented in the author’s unique style, a style that makes even a steamy romance seem simple and sweet, devoid of vulgarity. Vivid with imagery, the story as it unfolds transports the reader to the age of Rajahs and Maharajas and offers a chance to live the sequence of events through words woven with finesse into its fabric.
 

VERDICT

A short yet engrossing read, ‘The Passionate Princess’ sees the power of love and patience take a relationship that could go sour, to its logical end. The book ends on an interesting note.
 

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Book Review: The Prisoner of Yakutsk

 
 

 

THE PRISONER OF YAKUTSK
The Subhash Chandra Bose Mystery
Final Chapter
By
Shreyas Bhave
 
Paperback: 292 pages
Publisher: Leadstart Publishing Pvt Ltd
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9352011422
ISBN-13: 978-9352011421
 
 

 
 

History and fiction join hands to serve a palatable dish called ‘Prisoner of Yakutsk’.

Set in two different timelines set apart by around seven decades, and with seemingly unconnected people out on a hunt to unravel some mysteries, ‘Prisoner of Yakutsk’ has at its core the disappearance of a prominent figure from history, a man whom the Nation called Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. One of the most controversial disappearances, of all times, this one has made it to the headlines time and again without a satisfactory explanation. However in The Prisoner of Yakutsk, Author Shreyas Bhave attempts to find closure to the mystery, with the help of facts interspersed with fiction.

Intriguing plot combined with a riveting narrative ‘Prisoner of Yakutsk’ will make you sit up in your seat and not let you put it down till you read the last word. Well knitted and showcased, this one has all the elements of a good thriller, enough to keep you on the edge. The twists and the turns are nail- biting, and the climax will leave you stunned. The only thing I felt could have been better was the characterization part. While the characters of Jay and Tanya the protagonists, are perfectly etched, the ones of the sub characters like Mr. and Mrs. Singh, Harman and Dinesh felt wanting. However Akhtar’s (one among the five who set off on a special undercover operation) characterization is done perfectly. One can actually live it out while reading the book. Would have loved to get a better insight into the characters of the other four.
 
 

READ THE BLURB HERE @ GOODREADS
 
 

VERDICT

A gripping historical fiction that has the ability to take its reader along, and leave them fully satisfied ‘The Prisoner of Yakutsk’ will show you how history can be made interesting if only we put our heart into it and allow our creative juices to doodle in it. Looking forward to more such interesting reads from the author.

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Buy the book @ Amazon