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3.64 AVERAGE
3.64 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The story is good. But not better than his previous books.
Since we know Ramayana, we can guess the forthcoming in the book which means there is no thrill or expectation.
But after reading this I started to follow many rules as I can. No violation of rules
Since we know Ramayana, we can guess the forthcoming in the book which means there is no thrill or expectation.
But after reading this I started to follow many rules as I can. No violation of rules
This book is Set in the backdrop of Ayodhya and the Tale is portrayed as it happened before Lord Shiva's appearance.
Amish has paid more attention not to seem like his previous series (Shiva Trilogy) but he fails because he portrayed Ram as a confused person or he was left confused by the happenings.
Though the book was Racy and very descriptive. I could indulge myself into the book but at times I couldn't avoid the feeling of the Shiva Trilogy because Nagas and Somras are all over again.
A good read and Amish didn't fulfill the expectation created out of his previous books and if, you read the book without expectations. It is an amazing attempt.
Amish has paid more attention not to seem like his previous series (Shiva Trilogy) but he fails because he portrayed Ram as a confused person or he was left confused by the happenings.
Though the book was Racy and very descriptive. I could indulge myself into the book but at times I couldn't avoid the feeling of the Shiva Trilogy because Nagas and Somras are all over again.
A good read and Amish didn't fulfill the expectation created out of his previous books and if, you read the book without expectations. It is an amazing attempt.
In a word, it is "Disappointing". After the Shiva Trilogy, which while not a great piece of literary work was an exciting and engaging story, Scion of Ikshvaku to me is a gross deviation from what we have come to expect of an author such as Amish. The chemistry between Sita and Ram has been written well, but in contrast there is very little character development with regards to his brothers, mothers and most importantly Ravan. In fact, Ravan in my opinion is the greatest disappointment in this book. The characters in this book (with the exception of Sita and to an extent Bharat) are unidimensional, which is surprising as Amish has given several multi-faceted characters in a single book in his previous writing endeavors.
Will I pick up the second book? Yes, but with the greatest of reservations. I would recommend this book to anyone who HAS NOT read the Shiva trilogy since the stark contrast shall not disappoint them to the extent that it has disappointed me.
Will I pick up the second book? Yes, but with the greatest of reservations. I would recommend this book to anyone who HAS NOT read the Shiva trilogy since the stark contrast shall not disappoint them to the extent that it has disappointed me.
Yet another masterpiece by Amish has astounded me and kept me wanting more.
This was a hard piece of fiction to come to grips with. I would concede in the beginning that Ramayana though one of the grand epics is not the simple story cartoons would have us believe and after reading few well-known versions of the epic tale, Ram was positively one of characters I despised with his hypocrisy and misogynistic take of the events. So when I heard that Amish was re-writing the Ramayana as fiction, I was a bit skeptical about reading the first installment which mainly focuses on Ram.
After the longest introduction, let us finally talk about the much awaited Scion of Iksvaku. Amish has taken the well known characters we have been watching since our childhood as either cartoons or in serials and made them human with flesh and bone and flaws and struggles. While reading the narrative in the first person you will fell his pain and his doubts as if your own and each time others wrong the hero you will curse and wish them ill. If he passes his tests and trials you will rejoice in his victory .
It takes a good author to make the reader care about the characters in the story but it takes an even greater one to make a reluctant cynic to a beloved enthusiast. That is what Amish has done with this particular bit of writing.
We all know the story of how Ram was the best warrior and sent into exile by a bitter woman who realized her fault when it was too late. This book comes into the known narrative with new perspective, you read about every back story of how a beloved wife turned bitter, of how the first prince was mistreated by all in his own kingdom, of how the stoic fell in love. It takes you through a whirlwind of politics and palaces while still holding your attention through every page.
This was a hard piece of fiction to come to grips with. I would concede in the beginning that Ramayana though one of the grand epics is not the simple story cartoons would have us believe and after reading few well-known versions of the epic tale, Ram was positively one of characters I despised with his hypocrisy and misogynistic take of the events. So when I heard that Amish was re-writing the Ramayana as fiction, I was a bit skeptical about reading the first installment which mainly focuses on Ram.
After the longest introduction, let us finally talk about the much awaited Scion of Iksvaku. Amish has taken the well known characters we have been watching since our childhood as either cartoons or in serials and made them human with flesh and bone and flaws and struggles. While reading the narrative in the first person you will fell his pain and his doubts as if your own and each time others wrong the hero you will curse and wish them ill. If he passes his tests and trials you will rejoice in his victory .
It takes a good author to make the reader care about the characters in the story but it takes an even greater one to make a reluctant cynic to a beloved enthusiast. That is what Amish has done with this particular bit of writing.
We all know the story of how Ram was the best warrior and sent into exile by a bitter woman who realized her fault when it was too late. This book comes into the known narrative with new perspective, you read about every back story of how a beloved wife turned bitter, of how the first prince was mistreated by all in his own kingdom, of how the stoic fell in love. It takes you through a whirlwind of politics and palaces while still holding your attention through every page.
If you're looking at Indian mythologies, this is the stuff. Amish is simply brilliant
Amazingly done by Amish. I derived a lot of wisdom from this book.
This is for anyone who prefers to read a modern form of Ramayan.
This is for anyone who prefers to read a modern form of Ramayan.
Weaving history, civilization and tradition with fiction is what Amish does best. And he does it well in "Scion of Ikshvaku" as well. I liked that fact that he manages to weave certain concepts from the Shiva trilogy well into this - Nagas, Mahadev, civilization etc. The character of Ram and Sita, as also all others in the Ayodhya kingdom, and also Raavan have developed well so far though more work will be needed in subsequent books. The positive manner in which Amish deals with the role of women in civilization, caste and lineage has to be appreciated.
A case of brutality seems out of place in the book and seem to be added more to give it a contemporary flavour. The descriptions of masculine and feminine civilizations are contrived and I wish they had been named differently.
This first book simply sets the context - we have to see how the story develops in subsequent books. The best part of the book is it's honesty and pride in describing an ancient civilization from which we should learn even today. And for that, as also for so many others things, you should read the book.
A case of brutality seems out of place in the book and seem to be added more to give it a contemporary flavour. The descriptions of masculine and feminine civilizations are contrived and I wish they had been named differently.
This first book simply sets the context - we have to see how the story develops in subsequent books. The best part of the book is it's honesty and pride in describing an ancient civilization from which we should learn even today. And for that, as also for so many others things, you should read the book.
lighthearted
slow-paced