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A review by abhip
Ram: Scion of Ikshvaku by Amish
3.0
I picked up the book with a sense of obligation on not having read sufficient Indian authors this year and that Prime had given this book to me for free.
I have great admiration for the author attempting a multi-linear narrative. The book having read it and seeing the length did not seem to require it. Narration style did not seem consistent, the change from First person perspective to Third person could have been smoother in instances.
Coming to spoiler less comments.
Some of supporting characters seem a little uncooked. The four brothers are better chiseled, but you don't spend enough time with them to actually empathize significantly. There are instances where author's attempt at establishing the character details seem very transparent.
For readers of the Shiva Trilogy, there will be callbacks which being delight.
Coming to more details and hence spoilers.
When Dasarath is introduced, few lines in I had already grown a dislike for the character. He is a classist, arrogant king supposedly "Chakravarti" but the scenes make you question how this person ever reached that title. You are not going to get much background on this character and hence my opinion of undercooked characters. This is also true of some more characters. There are instances where author resorts to strong almost stereotypical representation of characters which I feel undermines the character and the writing.
Ravaan is introduced early and based on the multi-linear narrative I have a character I know is important but cannot understand since he is in another book.
The story is passable, the adaptions of mythical elements which were novel in the previous series are just appreciable in this.
I would prefer an appendix of what sources he has used and how he has changed them at the end of the book, I believe that it will give readers a better glimpse into the world. I have seen this in Mathew Reilly's Michael J Sullivan's and Marry Robinette Kowal's works, thriller, fantasy and sci-fi genre was respectively.
Unless I get from trusted sources that the series in conjunction with the 2,3 and 4 become really better, this is a series I am happy to not complete.
PS: Written on mobile, will try and edit later.
I have great admiration for the author attempting a multi-linear narrative. The book having read it and seeing the length did not seem to require it. Narration style did not seem consistent, the change from First person perspective to Third person could have been smoother in instances.
Coming to spoiler less comments.
Some of supporting characters seem a little uncooked. The four brothers are better chiseled, but you don't spend enough time with them to actually empathize significantly. There are instances where author's attempt at establishing the character details seem very transparent.
For readers of the Shiva Trilogy, there will be callbacks which being delight.
Coming to more details and hence spoilers.
When Dasarath is introduced, few lines in I had already grown a dislike for the character. He is a classist, arrogant king supposedly "Chakravarti" but the scenes make you question how this person ever reached that title. You are not going to get much background on this character and hence my opinion of undercooked characters. This is also true of some more characters. There are instances where author resorts to strong almost stereotypical representation of characters which I feel undermines the character and the writing.
Ravaan is introduced early and based on the multi-linear narrative I have a character I know is important but cannot understand since he is in another book.
The story is passable, the adaptions of mythical elements which were novel in the previous series are just appreciable in this.
I would prefer an appendix of what sources he has used and how he has changed them at the end of the book, I believe that it will give readers a better glimpse into the world. I have seen this in Mathew Reilly's Michael J Sullivan's and Marry Robinette Kowal's works, thriller, fantasy and sci-fi genre was respectively.
Unless I get from trusted sources that the series in conjunction with the 2,3 and 4 become really better, this is a series I am happy to not complete.
PS: Written on mobile, will try and edit later.