New twist on mythology

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Amish, book review, Books, mythology, Shiva, The immortals of Meluha, The secret of the nagas

So its done – I finished the second book in the Shiva Trilogy by Amish Tripathi

When I read the first book, I was amazed by the manner in which the author had portrayed Shiva. His rough personality, his habits (smoking pot) and even his relationships with Sati, her father and with his follower Nandi are seamlessly introduced into the story that almost make you say – this is how it must have been.

I’ve always believed that a good writer is one who’s writing will make the story come alive to you in a way that the words on the pages are just incidental. That is exactly what Amish does, though, I admit, there are times when you notice the slightly amateurish quality of his writing.

But despite the writing style, this is one that you shouldn’t miss. In the first book you meet Shiva, the Tibetan immigrant to India and the kingdom of Meluha. The story takes you through Shiva’s reluctant experience as the ‘chosen one’ of the Meluhans and how he leads the Meluhans in war against the flamboyant and undisciplined Chandravanshis. Are the Chandravanshis really in cohorts with the sinister Nagas? And who is the powerful and fearsome naga who seems to be stalking Sati? These are questions that leave you at the edge of your seat at the end of the first book.

When the second book released, I couldn’t help but quickly go over the first one to refresh my memory of the events, for the story in the second book picks up with little introduction to the first. The narrative immediately sweeps you into the thick intrigue of the nagas and their powerful and fear inspiring queen. The story takes you from one mystery to another till the secret of the nagas is reveled to you and you say ah!

I must confess that at the end of it all I was amazed at the sheer imagination of this writer!

Now I am waiting eagerly for the third and last book to discover where exactly Shiva’s journey will take him. Do give it a try…though leave your ‘logical’ caps behind. Its mythology…there’s bound to be something thats a little unbelievable.