Varahas Vengeance
AUTHOR: Arun Krishnan
PUBLISHED ON: 16 February 2024
GENRE: Historical Fiction
RATING: 4 Stars
BOOK 2 OF THE BATTLE OF VITHAPI: NANDI’S CHARGE TRILOGY
I have been reading too many Epic Fantasies and battles, most of which are written by foreign authors. I am not even complaining. But there are days when the things that I grew up with, the scenes, the words familiar to my Indian-born-raised brain were different. And so, I slowly started to read books by Indian authors. Nandi’s Charge was one of them. I was so impressed by the lyrical prose and familiarity that I couldn’t wait for the sequel. And lo, behold, here is the sequel.
Reading Varahas Vengeance by Arun Krishnan is like returning home to all the craziness, battles, betrayals and especially familiarity. This is why, representation matters. Now, let’s talk about the book, shall we? While, the first book, Nandi’s Charge was an introduction to the epic saga, the sequel, Varahas Vengeance continues the journey. This book didn’t have to beg for my attention or make me feel lost. The solid world-building in the first book took care of it.
The prose was just as lyrical and the setting just as melancholy. I am not lying when I say, that some scenes were so vivid, I could see them happening in front of my eyes. As the war goes on, we have challenges thrown by Pallavas and Chalukya back and forth, the spies are sent, and love is in the air as it always is with the war around. The emotions evoked and the dialogues are some of my favourite things about Varaha’s Vengeance.
In short, I would recommend Varahas Vengeance and in turn The Battle of Vithapi series to people who enjoy a good, vivid and epic battle. I would also suggest people who would like to read something in historical fiction but still have their tale.
BLURB:
SEVENTH-CENTURY INDIA. A GRIM STRUGGLE FOR SURVIVAL UNFOLDS. WILL THE PALLAVAS BRAVE THE CHALUKYA FURY, OR BE SWEPT AWAY BY THE RELENTLESS TIDE OF HISTORY?
After months of setting their plan in motion, three gallant Pallava captains march forward, driven by King Narasimhavaraman’s vow to avenge their clan’s honour. In response, the indomitable Chalukya King Pulikeshi launches a fierce counterattack, aided by his brother, Kubja Vishnuvardhana.
Backed by their powerful allies, the Chalukyas spare no effort in their attempts to decimate the Pallava army, ambushing the enemy on both land and sea. The very survival of the Pallavas hangs in the balance. Can they withstand the unbridled force unleashed by the resurgent Chalukyas or will they succumb to the overwhelming might of their adversaries? Can they rally their defences before all is lost?
The second volume of the adrenaline-fueled saga that began with Nandi’s Charge, unfolds in riveting detail in Varaha’s Vengeance, taking readers on a thrilling journey through one of the most exciting periods of Indian history.
You can read the review for The Nandi’s Charge here.
This book was provided by Blogchatter.
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