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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
I have a soft spot for mythological fiction and this book is exactly what I think a good mythological fiction should be.
The first part of " The Empress Of Indraprastha" - Entering Kuruvansh starts with preparations of Swayamvar of the princess of Panchala, Draupadi. There are few women in Hindu mythology who were aggressive and who spoke their mind in a patriarchal society and Draupadi was one of them. This book follows her journey as she married Arjuna, the third Pandava, and became a part of the intricately complicated Pandava clan.
I really loved how the author has introduced characters and how minutely she had described each one of them. The author has described each and every event with such care and precision that it felt a movie was unfurling infront of my eyes. I got to learn so many new details that were unknown to me. The narrative is easy flowing yet very powerful just like Panchali.
Not only the author mentioned the beautiful and kind side of Kalyani, but also she how intelligent and virtuous woman she was. This book showed how the society was at that time with complicated relationships, sibling bonds, how revenges were plotted highlighting the point that being a royal at that point was the toughest job of all.
The best part of this book was how the character of Shikandi was crafted and given importance to because there are some books were transgender characters are shoved in the backstage but in this book, the author did Shikandi justice. Also, the Glossary at the end will be really helpful to anyone who is not accustomed to Hindi terms or words.
While I wait for the next part eagerly, you better hurry up and pick this up! Believe me you won't be disappointed!
The first part of " The Empress Of Indraprastha" - Entering Kuruvansh starts with preparations of Swayamvar of the princess of Panchala, Draupadi. There are few women in Hindu mythology who were aggressive and who spoke their mind in a patriarchal society and Draupadi was one of them. This book follows her journey as she married Arjuna, the third Pandava, and became a part of the intricately complicated Pandava clan.
I really loved how the author has introduced characters and how minutely she had described each one of them. The author has described each and every event with such care and precision that it felt a movie was unfurling infront of my eyes. I got to learn so many new details that were unknown to me. The narrative is easy flowing yet very powerful just like Panchali.
Not only the author mentioned the beautiful and kind side of Kalyani, but also she how intelligent and virtuous woman she was. This book showed how the society was at that time with complicated relationships, sibling bonds, how revenges were plotted highlighting the point that being a royal at that point was the toughest job of all.
The best part of this book was how the character of Shikandi was crafted and given importance to because there are some books were transgender characters are shoved in the backstage but in this book, the author did Shikandi justice. Also, the Glossary at the end will be really helpful to anyone who is not accustomed to Hindi terms or words.
While I wait for the next part eagerly, you better hurry up and pick this up! Believe me you won't be disappointed!
I just had the incredible experience of immersing myself in the captivating world of The Empress of Indraprastha - Part 2: BUILDING AN EMPIRE by Sonali Raje, and I must say, it surpassed all my expectations! Picking up from where the first book left off, this installment follows Draupadi's journey as she ascends to become the empress of Indraprastha, and what a journey it is!
Draupadi, as a character, is nothing short of remarkable. Her strength, resilience, and determination are awe-inspiring, and I found myself completely invested in her growth and struggles. Raje has done a masterful job in crafting a multifaceted protagonist who embodies both vulnerability and unwavering resolve.
One of the highlights of the book is the beautiful portrayal of the sisterhood.
The Empress of Indraprastha - Part 2: BUILDING AN EMPIRE is not afraid to explore profound and difficult themes. Raje delves into the poignant loss of children, the impact of destroying indigenous habitats, and the consequences of wielding power. Yet, amidst these weighty issues, the author skillfully weaves threads of hope and inspiration, leaving the reader with a sense of optimism even in the face of adversity.
Raje's writing is both eloquent and evocative, transporting the reader back to ancient India and immersing them in a world rich with historical detail and cultural nuances. I found myself utterly engrossed in the narrative, losing track of time as I followed Draupadi's journey.
This book is an absolute gem, resonating with readers who appreciate historical fiction, mythology, and stories of empowered women. The Empress of Indraprastha - Part 2: BUILDING AN EMPIRE is a triumphant tale of ambition, sisterhood, and resilience, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking an enthralling and thought-provoking read.
Draupadi, as a character, is nothing short of remarkable. Her strength, resilience, and determination are awe-inspiring, and I found myself completely invested in her growth and struggles. Raje has done a masterful job in crafting a multifaceted protagonist who embodies both vulnerability and unwavering resolve.
One of the highlights of the book is the beautiful portrayal of the sisterhood.
The Empress of Indraprastha - Part 2: BUILDING AN EMPIRE is not afraid to explore profound and difficult themes. Raje delves into the poignant loss of children, the impact of destroying indigenous habitats, and the consequences of wielding power. Yet, amidst these weighty issues, the author skillfully weaves threads of hope and inspiration, leaving the reader with a sense of optimism even in the face of adversity.
Raje's writing is both eloquent and evocative, transporting the reader back to ancient India and immersing them in a world rich with historical detail and cultural nuances. I found myself utterly engrossed in the narrative, losing track of time as I followed Draupadi's journey.
This book is an absolute gem, resonating with readers who appreciate historical fiction, mythology, and stories of empowered women. The Empress of Indraprastha - Part 2: BUILDING AN EMPIRE is a triumphant tale of ambition, sisterhood, and resilience, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking an enthralling and thought-provoking read.
As a sucker for mythological fiction, especially Indian and particularly, the Mahabharata, the blurb and the cover for this book really caught my attention and it does not disappoint! I flew through it, ended up finishing it in just a couple of hours!!
THE PLOT:
Easy to get into - written well if you are new to the Mahabharata. Since it builds up on an existing story, the plot takes a backseat; the characters and specific events ended up shining.
THE CHARACTERS:
I was soooo investedd (all over again) with these people!
THE PLOT:
Easy to get into - written well if you are new to the Mahabharata. Since it builds up on an existing story, the plot takes a backseat; the characters and specific events ended up shining.
THE CHARACTERS:
I was soooo investedd (all over again) with these people!
This book is so CAPTIVATING!
THE COVER:
Let's talk about this cover huh? Grinning w wide eyes, immediately sitting up in my bed was my first reaction. It is breathtaking at first glance, but even more pretty when you realize WHAT it is a graphic depiction of + does justice to Panchali's alt name: KRISHNAA.
THE COVER:
Let's talk about this cover huh? Grinning w wide eyes, immediately sitting up in my bed was my first reaction. It is breathtaking at first glance, but even more pretty when you realize WHAT it is a graphic depiction of + does justice to Panchali's alt name: KRISHNAA.
I've read The Palace Of Illusions and fell in love with Draupadi's bold and charismatic character.
This is also a retelling of Draupadi's story.
The author has explored some characters who have always been in the sidelines, without any mentions , atleast I've never read or heard about them.
She has perfectly balanced the story with both interpersonal relationships between the characters and the political aspects of Mahabharat as well.
The author has explored some characters who have always been in the sidelines, without any mentions , atleast I've never read or heard about them.
She has perfectly balanced the story with both interpersonal relationships between the characters and the political aspects of Mahabharat as well.
I really liked the conversations between Draupadi and the Pandavs but what I loved was the interactions between Krishna and Draupadi.
The writing was easily comprehensible, anyone can give it a try.
I really enjoyed it!
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.2 Stars
One Liner: Entertaining, fast-paced, and emotional
Book two begins with the Pandavas trying to make Khandavaprastha habitable and ends with Dhuryodhana falling in a pond in the Mayasabha after Yudhistir’s Rajasuya yagna. We see Arjuna’s twelve-year exile, the marriages of the Pandava brothers to other women, and the birth of their children. Khandavaprastha is now Indraprastha, with Yudhistir as the king and Draupadi as his queen. Things are great and not great, as always.
The story comes from Draupadi’s first-person POV.
My Thoughts:
I applaud the author for the full-page disclaimer about the book being a fanfiction retelling and should not be used for academic/ learning purposes.
After reading book one, I knew what to expect in this and enjoyed the other side of the story (the domesticated aspects). Nakul and Sahadev get more space, which I loved again. Their characters shine throughout the book.
Draupadi’s voice gets better in this one. While book one was decent, this one manages to hit the cord in many areas. The relationships between Draupadi, the Pandava brothers and their other wives get deeper exploration (without excessive drama).
I love that the other women have meaty roles. They have their strengths and work together to build a stable Indraprastha. Each wife – Devika (Yudhistir), Valandhara (Bheem), Subhadra (Arjun), Karenumati (Nakul), and Vijiya (Sahadev) has a distinctive personality, which makes it easy to track them.
The book seamlessly combines political strategy, social welfare, family and relationships. This makes for a more rounded reading experience. The topics mentioned in the official blurb are briefly dealt with, which is enough for the book. I’m glad we don’t get a moral lesson with loads of preaching.
I do love the focus on Draupadi and Arjun’s relationship. It’s a welcome change to retellings that make her yearn for Karn (I hate this trope). Doesn’t it make sense for Draupadi to love Arjun a little more? She was to marry only him, after all! The scenes dealing with her angst are very well-written. My only grouse is that I wanted them to have an actual conversation like two adults. People saying they are two parts of one soul, etc., is okay. But we need to see it, too. Give us a scene where their love for each other shines so bright that it puts everything into perspective. (I sure wouldn’t have minded Draupdi getting a proper apology from Arjun. With all the creative liberties already taken in a retelling, why not use them to enhance a genuine relationship?)
Given the number of child-births in this one, we see a lot of pregnancies too. I like how there’s enough detail to show that each pregnancy can be different and affects the mother in different ways. We also see the distinctive personalities of the children; some are happy babies, some are demanding, and some are little angels!
The writing has modern tones with many contemporary terms like indigenous, natives, invaders, war refugees, immigrants, et al. Thankfully, the content is handled with enough care to not make it sound like a ‘progressive’ rant. We see how the Pandavas and the Nagas come to an understanding and how the place becomes more habitable for everyone.
Issues like being different, unconventional family structures, marital consent, family discord, etc., are also well done. I enjoyed the way these important aspects were presented.
The scenes with Krishna are my favorite (and why not). I feel even the author loves writing about him. The dialogues feel like they’ve been written with extra care. It’s Krishna, right! Naturally, there’s quite a bit of foreshadowing, which is easy to see if you know the original.
Karn is also present (obviously), though Druapadi is more focused on her family and kingdom. Fortunately, the animosity continues and gets even stronger (also, it’s not likely to turn into anything else, which is a relief). Karn is shown as who he is instead of who readers want him to be. Contrary to the public opinion, he is no saint. I do feel his friendship and loyalty to Dhuryodhana aren’t as pure but come from a place of Karn’s self-interest, too.
There are many versions of Dhuryodhana’s tour of Mayasabha and his subsequent ‘insult’. From what I know, that particular dialogue is not said by Draupadi (though some versions say the words were spoken by Bheem). Still, I don’t mind it much (considering we have worse retellings of the same).
To summarize, The Empress of Indraprastha – Building an Empire is well-written, entertaining, and interesting. It does provide a fresh perspective of Draupadi (as far as I know) and works well for the contemporary market. (It is not a standalone.)
My thanks to the author, Sonali Raje, for the complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
***
P.S.: The cover is cool! I like how the colors perfectly match the description in the book. A darker skin tone would have been even better!
lighthearted
fast-paced
3.7 Stars
One Liner: Nice
The Empress of Indraprastha - Entering Kuruvansh is the first book in the five-part series retelling Mahabharat from Draupadi’s perspective. The book deals with her Swayamvar until the partition of Hastinapur, where the Pandavas are allotted the barren section (Khandavprastha) of the kingdom.
My Observations:
The book is short, crisp, and easy to read. It sets a decent foundation for the remaining four books in the series.
I haven’t found any triggers (pseudo intellectuals colonizing the original), so that’s a relief. I will read the subsequent works to see if the intent continues or changes.
The overall feeling the book gives is light. As if I skimmed the surface and didn’t go into deep waters. This is an advantage and disadvantage, depending on what the reader wants.
The vibes are pretty much positive despite the post-modern phrases like gender equality (I was worried when this term appeared thrice in the first two chapters) and caste discrimination (which has to be ‘varna’ as there was no ‘caste’ during the Mahabharata era).
There’s Draupadi’s obsession with Karn again, albeit in a different manner. However, it could go either way, and I’ll reserve my views on it until I know where it leads. The author did handle it better in this book compared to CBD’s Palace of Illusions. I hope it continues.
Sahdev gets more screen space in this one, which I like. The interactions have strong undertones of foreshadowing (a little too much at times). Krishna’s wordplay gets a special mention (something I always enjoy in our old Telugu movies).
The book has more domesticated scenes that show the other side of the princes and kings. Of course, the author’s imagination is at work, but as long as it doesn’t harm the original, I don’t mind.
A little more research into confirming timeframes for samosas and Jaunpuri rang would have been better. Historical inaccuracies don’t look good in books. (it’s not like we don’t have enough native dishes and ragas to borrow from another culture and time)
There are descriptions of the setting where it matters, and the individual characteristics of the Pandava brothers are well presented. But the book, as such, misses the feel of historical fiction.
A book set in ancient times has to have the charm of the period. Despite the sprinkling of some native words, the impact isn’t there. The writing feels contemporary (almost like modern-day characters role-playing a periodic drama).
To summarize, The Empress of Indraprastha - Entering Kuruvansh is a decent beginning to the series and a fast read if you aren’t too particular about a few things. Rounding off the rating to 4 stars since this is the author’s debut work (and I didn’t find anything offensive).
I thank the author for the complimentary copy of the book. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinions.
*****
If you’re interested in knowing more about Draupadi and Mahabharata in general, check out the Draupadi Parashakti website by a friend. It mentions the references from where the information is collected and presented in individual blogs.
informative
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
This is the third book I read on Draupadi, and I have been lucky that they covered different perspectives. It starts on her Swayamwar, ends with Khandavprastha being offered as their share of the Kingdom to the Pandavas, and includes different stories from the interim.
The book depicts the strong personality of Panchaali (or Kalyani, if you prefer). There is an emphasis on Panchaal being an inclusive society compared to other kingdoms, with no discrimination based on gender, caste, or other parameters. Draupadi herself was treated at par with her brothers and taught the same skills without gender bias. She, however, used the caste card to reject Karna from participating in the Swayamwar, so that seemed out of place.
I liked the part wherein Draupadi and the Pandavas decided on their polyandrous marriage, as that is not something I remember being explained in other readings I have gone through. It was a combination of obeying the mother and doing something for the greater good of the family (and indirectly, also of the Kingdom). The author has also built up the Draupadi-Krishna friendship with specific comments that I expect would be referred to later ("I will be there for you when you really need me the most") and also the Draupadi-Karna hatred, which I am curious to evolve further. The part on Bhanumati, Supriyaa and Vrushaali and children was a pleasant diversion though they remain fringe characters.
I also liked that all Pandavas are handled separately and Sonali has given them equal coverage. I have not felt this in other books or discussions, and I am unsure if there was parity even in the actual epic (I have not read the original text but saying so based on the TV shows). It was nice to know more about each of the five brothers without much focus on their military skills.
The part I felt did not work for me was how the book seemed to end prematurely, with an intent to lead the reader to the next book in the series. Considering it was a short read, I feel it could have been one book (and not a series) to get to a logical ending since we already know the overall story of Draupadi. In the case of a series, I would prefer to pick the book after the whole series is out and binge-read it instead of reading the first book now and then waiting a few months/ years later. That conveys my intention to read more and my impatience to wait for it (so it's a problem with me and not the book).
The writing style was simple and would appeal to all kinds of readers. I loved and related to specific excerpts, a couple of my favourites are:
"Morals and ethics are not set in stone. While the two are closely related, there is a subtle difference between them. Morals are typically personal, whereas ethics relate to societal norms. What may be right for one person may be wrong for someone else."
"Love is not something that can be defined. There is no right or wrong way of loving someone. If you truly love someone, you must occasionally put their needs first, over and above yourself.”
I would have liked a 3.5 ⭐️ option, as that’s where I’d want to have here. 3 is not the right number!
The book depicts the strong personality of Panchaali (or Kalyani, if you prefer). There is an emphasis on Panchaal being an inclusive society compared to other kingdoms, with no discrimination based on gender, caste, or other parameters. Draupadi herself was treated at par with her brothers and taught the same skills without gender bias. She, however, used the caste card to reject Karna from participating in the Swayamwar, so that seemed out of place.
I liked the part wherein Draupadi and the Pandavas decided on their polyandrous marriage, as that is not something I remember being explained in other readings I have gone through. It was a combination of obeying the mother and doing something for the greater good of the family (and indirectly, also of the Kingdom). The author has also built up the Draupadi-Krishna friendship with specific comments that I expect would be referred to later ("I will be there for you when you really need me the most") and also the Draupadi-Karna hatred, which I am curious to evolve further. The part on Bhanumati, Supriyaa and Vrushaali and children was a pleasant diversion though they remain fringe characters.
I also liked that all Pandavas are handled separately and Sonali has given them equal coverage. I have not felt this in other books or discussions, and I am unsure if there was parity even in the actual epic (I have not read the original text but saying so based on the TV shows). It was nice to know more about each of the five brothers without much focus on their military skills.
The part I felt did not work for me was how the book seemed to end prematurely, with an intent to lead the reader to the next book in the series. Considering it was a short read, I feel it could have been one book (and not a series) to get to a logical ending since we already know the overall story of Draupadi. In the case of a series, I would prefer to pick the book after the whole series is out and binge-read it instead of reading the first book now and then waiting a few months/ years later. That conveys my intention to read more and my impatience to wait for it (so it's a problem with me and not the book).
The writing style was simple and would appeal to all kinds of readers. I loved and related to specific excerpts, a couple of my favourites are:
"Morals and ethics are not set in stone. While the two are closely related, there is a subtle difference between them. Morals are typically personal, whereas ethics relate to societal norms. What may be right for one person may be wrong for someone else."
"Love is not something that can be defined. There is no right or wrong way of loving someone. If you truly love someone, you must occasionally put their needs first, over and above yourself.”
I would have liked a 3.5 ⭐️ option, as that’s where I’d want to have here. 3 is not the right number!