Whenever there is a series that I read, it always leaves me with questions and more questions. Rajiv G Menon’s Vedic Trilogy was no exception. Then there are series that no matter where you start from, you can always read as a standalone book. Rakshasas the show warriors, was one such book. Done in an uncommon green color for a cover, the second part of the trilogy had everything that you'd want to have in such a book.
About the book- 'Rise, O mighty rakshasas! The time has come for us to give these warriors of the light a good reason to fear the dark.’ The world is in a turmoil. Naraka and his formidable Asura warmachine March unhindered across it bringing once great nations to their knees. They have now set their eyes on the ultimate prize- Bharata, the land of the seven rivers. Indra and his Devas struggle to contain this threat, even as they battle their own differences and the temptations of Swarga. In Bharata, Jayanta, the son of Indra, is the new ruler. But as he prepares for the Asura invasion, a potential threat is rising in the vast forests if Dandaka. Vidyutkesa- the only survivor of a genocide perpetrated by Jayanta- has journeyed into his heart and made contact with the Order of Sarpa, an accent and powerful secret society headed by Queen Manasa. With the blessings of Raksha, the Earth Spirit, the Sarpas transform Vidyutkesa and his companions into supernatural beings called Rakshasas. Their mission: to protect their land, forests and way of life. In this second installment of his Vedic Trilogy, Rajiv G Menon weaves a rich and vibrant tapestry of the epic struggle between earth worshipping feminine cultures that live in harmony with nature, and the patriarchal forces that seek to tame her.
This book is so much and much more when it comes to the content of it. How I love when maps are given in such fantasy books. Where you'll be very much acquainted with the characters if you've read book 1, it might take a bit of a time to get so with book 2. But what I know is the fact that these characters won't be able to leave your mind once you're through. For me, personally, I can't wait for book 3 already.
The book is a lengthy one with so much happening in every single page that you need to have your own sweet time in reading this. Hurrying up won't help your cause. The trick to reading books by Rajiv Menon, as I've noticed, is to read slow and steady and savor what every single page has to give you. The wonderful narration skills by the author takes you on a journey through what he has created as a world and that is commendable.
Coming to the characters and the story. As you all might already know, since it is a series I won't be discussing them as much as I'd like to because “spoilers” but then, you'll love your favorite characters and root for them, this much is a guarantee. For the later part in this 400+ pages of the book, you might feel that it is dragged and that it could've been more crisp and could've ended earlier. But then again, in contradiction to what I said, the actual end of the book makes you have a smile on your face.
Coming to the cons of the book, the first con that I felt was too many characters. When on one hand I understand the need of so many characters, I also feel that a few characters were unnecessary. Next, the length. For a person like me who juggles reading with a lot of other things, the length of this book can be a bit of a hindrance especially because of the last few parts where I felt it was dragged a bit. I, anyhow, needed just two sittings to finish this one book. Grammatically and narration wise on point, eager to read book 3, this one was 4 out of 5 for me.
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