- Format: Paperback
- Pages: 358
- Publisher: Westland
- Publication Date: 20 August 2018
- Source: Review Copy
- My Rating: 4 stars
Blurb
A small princely state in Rajasthan is the last bastion of resistance against the might of the British Empire. While unrest surrounding the sudden death of the king of Devangarh grows, young prince Rudra Pratap Chauhan prepares to ascend the throne.
But the kingdom is in turmoil. The Devangarh army is outnumbered and the British forces are closing in. To make matters worse, Rudra discovers the king’s death may not have been accidental after all. The strange appearance and disappearance of a mysterious hooded stranger and a series of ritualistic murders in which the bodies have been drained of blood, spread panic across the realm.
As Rudra struggles to manage his new responsibilities and investigate his father’s death, dark secrets will be uncovered that will disrupt life as he knows it.
My Thoughts
Tarikshir: The Awakening by Khayaal Patel is a wonderful mix of fantasy, historical fiction and mythology. The book begins in Ravan’s palace where Valikesh, a cowardly vanar obtains a valuable and dangerous gem. The plot then moves on to 1826 where the kingdom of Devangarh, ruled by the Rajputs is under threat from the Britishers. Rudra, the son of Raja Ravindra. We see a lot of clashes between the Rajput family. Pur protagonist, Rudra is torn between being the valiant Rajput fighter that he’s supposed to be and finding more diplomatic solution to problems rather than war. He didn’t enjoy war, but he also didn’t want to impress his father. We see the characters trying not to awaken the evil rakshas Tarikshir.
A lot of elements of the Ramayana are present in the book. The book is action-packed and unpredictable. There are twists and betrayals. The ending especially is full of one surprise after another.
The writing style of the author is flawless. It is fast-paced but still very detailed and descriptive.
I highly enjoyed this book. It is an amazing debut by the author, and I cannot wait to read the sequel. I highly recommend this book.
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